New Perfume Review: House Of Cherry Bomb Immortal Mine II (Maria McElroy/ Alexis Karl ) 2016 + Delores del Rio Glamour Draw

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Detail of a photo of Delores del Rio and friend, iconic Old Hollywood actress of the 1930s apped MC

At the end of a week rife with high emotions it is with pleasure that I review the new fragrance from the House Of Cherry Bomb Immortal Mine II. But first a shout out to two very special people. I really am the luckiest fraghead on the planet! Many thanks to both Michelyn Camen of CaFleureBon and to  Portia Turbocharge of Australian Perfume Junkies two of my all-time favorite perfume blogs, for allowing me to write for them. Honestly how much better can my life get?

So on to perfume…..

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Maria McElroy and Alexis Karl of House of Cherry Bomb (photo from Maria and Alexis)

I am so happy to write about this hot off the perfume organ, ultimate lovegasm scent from House of Cherry Bomb (HOCB) in Brooklyn. House Of Cherry Bomb (hereafter HOCB), and HOCB Killer Perfume, their spin-off company are the well regarded lovechildren of two amazing perfumers, Maria McElroy and Alexis Karl. HOCB is of those great indie brands that always gets lots of buzz in the perfume community and rightly so. Their range of scents is young and snappy, full of unusual, compelling combinations.

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Delores del Rio apped MC

This is a lovely gem of a scent. I expected that Immortal Mine II would be an easy love for me, perfumer Maria McElroy had created two of my top ten perfumes of all time. Her company, Aroma M is  well known for the cult favorite Geisha perfumes. Voluptuous Nostalgia is a personal favorite and my back-up has its own back-up. Maria’s friend and partner in perfume,  Alexis Karl of Scents By Alexis,   composed a modern day example of an all out Old Hollywoood glamour perfume.

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Delores del Rio

Immortal Mine II is a continuation or rather a “reawakening” of the original Immortal Mine perfume created by Scents By Alexis in 2012. This is NOT a reformulation but rather a riff of an already glorious scent. As described by Maria and Alexis “Immortal Mine II is “In its new form, this all natural fragrance entwines the mystery of dark, vintage ouds and million year old amber resins, with that of stunning Moroccan henna flower, drops of precious beeswax absolute, and tobacco flower. A shadow of ambergris, labdanum and chypre are touched with traces of delicate lily of the valley and Madagascar vanilla.”

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Delores del Rio looks stunnning. I apped  this black  and white photo in gold MC

Immortal Mine II is so well blended that I am hard pressed to pick out individual notes.  To quote Aristotle, ”The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”  Immortal Mine II is a stunning amber-centric perfume, warm and enveloping, dark, sexy and profoundly mysterious.

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Delores del Rio 1953 photo by Everett apped MC

The difference between the oil and the EDP is as you might expect. The oil is more of a personal experience, a skin scent that is perfect for the boudoir, and the edp, initially more sparkling and with better throw, is what to wear BEFORE you get to the bedroom, in other words perfume foreplay. Both carry the same vintage, glamorous vibe.

–Robert Hermann, Guest Contributor (with contributions from Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief)

Art Direction: Delores del Rio was the first Mexican actress to ‘crossover’ in Hollywood. She was considered one of the greatest beauties of her time (1930s-early 1950s). All glamour, breaking boundaries,  a mythical figure in Mexican cinema, Delores del Rio is an immortal beloved of mine. 

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Immortal Beloved II perfume oil and EDP photo House of Cherry Bomb

 Writer’s Note: If you haven’t explored the range I highly recommend the Cardamom Rose and the Tobacco Cognac, two of my favorites. Immortal Beloved II is available in 1/3 oz (10 ml) oil based perfume  housed in a hand blown, gold filagree, Czechoslovakian glass flacon for $150.00 and the 1/3 oz (10 ml) EDP is sold in a red metal purse atomizer.$50.00 -RH

Maria and Alexis have been kind enough to offer a sample set of 1 ml each of both the oil and the edp to a USA  registered reader (you must register to be eligible. Not sure? Click here). Please leave a comment with what appeals to you about Immortal Beloved II based on Robert’s review. Draw closes 11/16/2016

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

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12 comments

  • fazalcheema says:

    When I read Maria McElroy, I had a feeling I am familiar with this name from somewhere. I am intrigued by Immoratal Mine II because it seems to be quite well blended that it is a struggle to pick out individual notes. I must also add Delores del Rio had a beauty that has relatively a modern feel. I was quite puzzled by the first picture in the article that it was from 1930s because Delores really looks like someone from current era. I am not trying to judge but more like, I have a certain image in my mind as to how classical beauty and modern beauty looks like. There are some women now whose beauty I often associate with classical beauty. Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Ellen M says:

    This sounds like it just might be “the one.” I’m loving the notes. They sound like amazing. I live in the USA. Thanks for the draw.

  • Maya says:

    I would love to try Immortal Mine II, especially since I have wanted to try Immortal Mine and cannot find it available anywhere. Both sound wonderful. One of my favorite perfumes is from HOCB, Pink Haze. I absolutely love it! USA.

  • Chrissy McGee says:

    Beeswax, Lily of the Valley, and Vanilla, Boudoirs, and Dark, Sexy and Mysterious all in one review…this sounds like something I must try! I have always loved Honey notes, but this one really does sound spectacular.

  • Beata says:

    Everything described in Robert’s review caught my attention and I didn’t expect to find these amazing notes put together. It might become my number one fragrance for the new coming year! I can’t wait to try it! 🙂 I’m in the US.

  • Cynthia says:

    I am familiar with all of Maria’s work, but none of Alexis’. I think colaborations are so interesting and can bring out the best in both perfumers. I see this as a good sign for the industry. I always wanted to try the original Immortal Beloved but never got my hands on it. USA

  • karo says:

    I love Alexis’s creations and I love the note breakdown. Especially the Henna. The fossilized amber is very unique. I’m in the US. Thank you so much for this giveaway.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Thanks for the review. There is a quote that “Two is better than One” which is perfect for creation of “House Of Cherry Bomb”. Although “Scent by Alexis” and “Aroma M” on their own are wonderful and superb perfume houses.
    Never tried any of the House Of Cherry Bomb perfumes, but Cardamom Rose, Tuberose Tobacco Cognac, and the Tobacco Cognac are already on my want list. Would love to win the samples set.
    Thanks to Maria and Alexis for their generosity and the Cafleurebon for the opportunity to participate in the draw by giving my relative address in NY, US.

  • doveskylark says:

    Perfumes that evoke old Hollywood glamour are my favorites. I also love amber resins. I have heard of Delores del Rio. Now I will search for her movies. I live in the USA.

  • Maureen Ruf says:

    The review caught my attention due to the photos of Dolores Del Rio, a classic beauty. Old Hollywood glamour is sorely lacking these days. I would love to try this fragrance. i live in the USA.

  • hofken says:

    The notes in Immortal Beloved II (dark, vintage ouds and million year old amber resins, with that of stunning Moroccan henna flower, drops of precious beeswax absolute, and tobacco flower. A shadow of ambergris, labdanum and chypre are touched with traces of delicate lily of the valley and Madagascar vanilla) are the greatest lure of this fragrance. In addition, Robert’s review and summation that it is “a stunning amber-centric perfume, warm and enveloping, dark, sexy and profoundly mysterious” really amped up my desire to try this scent.