NEW FRAGRANCE REVIEW Etat Libre D’Orange Bijou Romantique + Sample Draw

April 7, 2012

When I received the new Etat Libre D’Orange Bijou Romantique I also received the other new release from ELDO, Fils de Dieu. I immediately fell for the flashier Fils de Dieu. Then I was sitting at my desk and I picked up the decant again. Without the showier fragrance to compete with it I slowly realized the subtle charms that perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui was conjuring with Bijou Romantique. Once I could experience it on its own I understood this was a fragrance for those who love complex fragrances.

NEW FRAGRANCE REVIEW Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Shot: Fast Moving Fragrance

April 6, 2012

I think the best series of flankers going has been the Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure series. Starting in 2008 with A*Men Pure Coffee it was followed by Pure Malt and Pure Havane. The fourth entry is out and it is called A*Men Pure Shot and the name and the A*Men base is where the similarity ends.

NEW FRAGRANCE REVIEW: Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme “Riding Giants”

April 4, 2012April 4, 2012

1999’s Chanel Allure Homme is still one of my favorite men’s mainstream fragrances. I was split on the two subsequent flankers Allure Homme Sport and Allure Homme Edition Blanche. Now the third flanker is here which seems to be a flanker of a flanker; Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme.

HERMES Hermessences: Perfumed Poetry by Jean Claude Ellena

April 3, 2012December 24, 2014

Hermes’ in-house perfumer (M. Ellena) has captured the essence of many of perfumery’s most used “notes” in light and ephemeral creations called the Hermessences. What Jean Claude has done (and rather well, I might add) is to create “perfumed haikus” or poetry in a bottle.

NEW NATURAL SPRING SCENTS FROM A WING & A PRAYER+ A READER’S CHOICE DRAW

April 2, 2012

Last year I was introduced to the scents of Jane Cate, of A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes, who was awarded the title of Rising Star in Natural Perfumery 2011 by CaFleureBon. What I like about Jane’s fragrances is that although they are definitely natural, they are an embodiment of Nature herself.

NEW FRAGRANCE REVIEW The Different Company Oud For Love: Bertrand Duchaufour Takes It Slow

March 31, 2012March 31, 2012

In Oud Shamash M Duchaufour wanted to create a sensual masculine and I thought he succeeded. You might think Oud For Love would be the flip side of that and an intensely floral heart could lead you to believe that was what he was shooting for. As I wore Oud For Love I found it more a study in three acts to see what different sets of notes could bring out from the oud.