New Fragrance Review: SmellBent Dr. Dreidel 3000 (Winterrific Collection) + Hanukkah Perfume Draw

brentandmax leonesio smell bent

Brent and Max Leonesio have a thing for dreidels

Every year ÇaFleureBon dedicates at least one post to Hanukkah, which begins at sundown December 16th and ends December 24th this year. For the last five years, Brent  Leonesio and brother Max of  Smell Bent have dedicated a yearly perfume to the Festival of Lights: beginning in 2009 with Gelty Pleasures, Dr. DreidelHansel & Dreidel, Lady Dreidel, Gimel a Break ( 2013) and this year's (The Hebrew year is actually 5775) ,  Dr. Dreidel 3000.

gimel a break smellbent

Gimel a Break!!!

Soon there will be a Smell Bent creation for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah- something noticeably missing from the usual fragrance collections offered during the holidays.

 

The Hanukkah Dreidel Song From the Chabad.org Itche Kadoozy Show

Brent has a thing for dreidels. “Dreidels are a nod to growing up in a Jewish household,” explains Brent Leonesio the creative force behind smell bent “[they] represent the playful part of Hanukkah and take me back to being a kid anxious for sundown.”

dreidel square

Dr. Dreidel 3000

Dr. Dreidel 3000 is a complex and intricately woven collection of woods: Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata) is a conifer in the cypress family indigenous to Japan; it is often planted around temples and the rebuilding of the HolyTemple is one central to the story of Hanukkah. Add Malaysian sandalwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) and guaiac wood and you have the structure for something quite sacred. Opening with a fresh and familiar cedar like wood notes and bright hiba- into the woods we go, getting lost in darker, thicker guaiac with a smooth crush of vetiver grass completing the forest imagery. Oud and amber base notes are melted into the needled green woods as trunk on a tree and ground the fragrance in sweet incense. A musk note is recognizably Smell Bent- a sheer, unisex, non-skanky aura, connecting and shining through evergreen tree accords and benefiting the more smokey tones. Dr. Dreidel 3000 is an oriental wood powerhouse- an olfactory building of a temple, with the rich scent of it's restored beams owing much to a heavy dosing of botanical materials. “It’s about 60% natural.  I have a real aversion to most synthetic woods, so most of the wood notes I use are natural.” states Brent.  The use of high quality naturals makes this a mixed media perfume so well crafted, that a serious botanical perfume devotee like me is impressed.  It is easily my favorite Smell Bent perfume so far, and one I plan on wearing throughout the holiday season. The grounding nature of the wood oils will certainly help keep one's head in the holiday madness.

smellbent illustrations perfume

Smell Bent Characters  (is the Joker Brent???)

The smell bent brand's quirky hand drawn labels are fun and approachable, drawing in serious perfume people who might normally be attracted to fancy French filigree. Much like the tribal/graffiti imagery of Keith Haring- there is great artistry behind the colorful and fun images. Dr. Dreidel 3000 is a serious perfume and Brent is quickly becoming the pop artist of the perfume world.; Brent has shown both a childlike glee and thoughtful crafting in his creations- much as Haring used simple imagery to convey serious messages.

Notes: oud, Malaysian sandalwood, guaiac wood, and hiba spun with designer musk, vetiver and amber incense.

Einsof, West Coast Contributor

disclosure: my sample was provided by Smell Bent for review

siberian shewolf, dr dreidel300, icestationpineapple werewoldlumberjack reclining on a bearskin rug smell bent

The Winterrific! Collection, which includes Werewolf Reclining on a Bearskin Rug by an Open Fire, Siberian She Wolf, Ice Station Pineapple and  Dr. Dreidel 3000  are all limited editions  and only available until January 31st 2015 (in a gift set, sampler set and Smell Bent even offers a customized gift package, allowing you to choose a selection from their extensive catalog of aromas They are offering free shipping with any order over $30 GivenGet.)

Thanks to Brent Leonsesio of smell bent we have a sampler set of the Winterrific collection or a 50 ml bottle of Dr. Dreidel for a USA reader. To be eligible, let us know if you have a favorite smell bent fragrance and what you like about Hannukah. Draw ends December 17, 2014.

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

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18 comments

  • I’ve never tried a Smell Bent fragrance before, so I would choose the sampler. My favorite part of Hanukkah is lighting our fabulous turquoise peacock menorah. Thanks and happy holidays!

  • My favorite Smellbent creation is Bollywood or Bust with its rose and sandalwood elements. I like Hanukkah because light festivals tend to cheer moods, by even brightening dark nights. Christmas has the same effect on people. I am in the US

  • What i like about Hannukah is the ritual of lighting candles which can put anyone in a festive mood. i dont have a favorite since ive only tried only 5 of their scents, but i do like Commando. I would like the 50ml bottle of Dr. Driebel. Im in the US

  • My favorite Smell Bents are Prairie Nymph and Incensed- can’t wait to try more from Brent! (and I love the illustrations)! My favorite thing about Hanukkah, which I unfortunately don’t celebrate, would be, when I was younger, reading Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, which was a wonderful story. I’m in the US.

  • I love all of the wintertime holiday celebrations and although I don’t celebrate Haunakkah I have fond memories of spinning the Dreidel in elementary school (back when we celebrated all holidays instead of banning everything). My favorite SB scents, so far, are One and Five. I would love a bottle of Dr. Dreidel 3000 and am in the US. Thank you!

  • I love being with my family, lighting candles and singing together.My favorite Smell Bent is Incensed.
    I would love the sampler set.
    Thank you!

  • rivercitylizzy says:

    My current favorite among the Smell Bent scents I have is the dearly departed Sunshine Mama’s Spiced Tea–takes me back to weekend mornings in my parents’ kitchen with the smell of Constant Comment heavy in the air! I’m eking it out in small, precious dabs…

    I’m not Jewish but I must say that having eight days to celebrate would be lovely–in our home, Christmas feels like such a frenzy with all the relatives we try to visit in a two-day span!

    I’m in the US and would choose the full -size bottle of Dr. Dreidel 3000. Mahalo for the draw!

  • I have yet to sample a Smell Bent but want to. The sample set sounds interesting, and keen to try Dr. Dreidel 3000. I don’t have much associations with Hanukkah, but have always been found of dreidels when around them. I live in the US and if selected would like the large Dr, Dreidel. Thanks for the draw.

  • I have not tried any Smell Bent fragrances yet. I am also not Jewish and I do not celebrate Hanukkah, but I love the idea of 8 days of gifts! Thank you, I am in the US.

  • I’d love to try these.
    My favorite thing about Hanukkah is eating dairy in memory of Judith feeding cheese to Holofernes.
    My favorite Smell Bent fragrance is Incensed Short Fuse.

  • I have not smelled a Smell Bent fragrance on me or anyone else (that I know of). I like that Hanukkah keeps traditions that are thousands of years old. US.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I have not yet had the pleasure of wearing a Smell Bent fragrance. I do not celebrate Hanukkah, but it seems very festive and special with a lot of traditions.

  • I love smell bent! I’m intrigued by the notes of Dr. Dreidel 3000 and would love to win the full bottle. I have to admit, though I am not Jewish, I love the food that goes along with Hanukkah. Delish. I’m in the U.S. Thanks for the draw, and Happy Hanukkah!

  • I have yet to be lucky enough to smell Smell Bent scents, but I love the aesthetic. I was raised Christian, but I really love how my Jewish friends celebrate the holiday season–lots of food and plenty of kvetching! I live in the U.S., and would love to win the sampler set!