Today's grab was simply due to the color of the vial. The juice in this is a pretty soft rose pink color, and that was good enough for me. (Note: this is not the she version, but I suspect that also would have a pretty color.)
The Luckyscent notes for this are: whiskey, coffee, tobacco, pepper, cinnamon, incense, myrrh, spicy accord, ambrette, labdanum, benzoin, amber, musk.
In the vial, this has already intrigued me. It hits with the spices, the musk, a touch of amber, and a sly slide of whiskey.
On the skin: Oooooh! Um. I know it won't taste like it smells, but I really want to lick my arm right now. I adore, adore, adore a sexy but assertive fragrance that hints at being soft. One that says, "I've got some edges and mystery, but know how to cuddle." The cinnamon in this is smooth, really smooth, not hot or fiery or painful. I think it's the benzoin that is rounding this out, giving body, and smoothing the edges (benzoin is often used as a lighter amber note, to round things out or cream them up, and according to one website, benzoin has a sweet vanilla balsam woody vibe with a touch of resin). This has a hint of kick, a touch of spices and incense (making it feel slightly exotic without making me think I've come face to face with a tiger), and on the faaaaint back end of it all has a touch of what I call banana wood pulp. Slightly fruity, while standing in a hardwood forest.
As it dries, the myrrh comes forward a bit, which seems to add more layers and complexity at a time when many fragrances are beginning to thin out and tone down. The problem with that? Myrrh often comes across on me as halitosis breath. Here's this beautiful, rich, complex, rounded fragrance, and then waaaay underneath? Halitosis.
*sadness
*woe
Overall, I really do like this one. It has a lot of qualities I enjoy. It's rich and snuggly, but...if you get too close you may want to ask it to use some mouthwash.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Heartless Helen by Penhaligons
Today, I deliberately reached into the pile I'd made for me. This is a pile of perfumes that I stretched myself to get, as most are very feminine and I tend to lean unisex, but it appears that the husband does like me to smell like a lady now and then so I decided to give these a try.
Besides, I thought it would be fun to watch how he would respond to smelling like a flower. So.
According to Luckyscent, the notes for this are: mandarin orange, tuberose, creamy woods
This goes on with a mighty dose of "HI! I'm TUBEROSE!" but in the creamy way that tuberose can make you question what you are smelling. Is it sweet? Is it creamy? Is it a gardenia? A urinal puck? Something else?
As it dries, the tuberose softens some, allowing the creamy woods to come forward (although it's, to me, less woods and more creamy/white floral mixed with something that may at moments come across like rosewood). Every now and then, there's a faint citrusy vibe that I am going to say is the mandarin orange (but that's a really optimistic claim from what I'm smelling on my skin).
When I sniffed it on my husband, there is more of a soft sandalwood-esque essence that comes through, and I do like how his skin picks up more of the wood note, but overall this is pretty mild in the wood department, and very very tuberose (without the rubber tire, intense blast that I tend to appreciate, and much more soft and reminiscent of gardenia).
It's pretty. I would never be able to get away with it on a muggy summer day here in the south though. It sits on my skin and humidity would turn it into a smothering blanket of nope. However, I can see this being a bright pick-me-up in the dark dull days of winter, where you need something cheerful, comforting, and, dare I say, pretty.
Besides, I thought it would be fun to watch how he would respond to smelling like a flower. So.
According to Luckyscent, the notes for this are: mandarin orange, tuberose, creamy woods
This goes on with a mighty dose of "HI! I'm TUBEROSE!" but in the creamy way that tuberose can make you question what you are smelling. Is it sweet? Is it creamy? Is it a gardenia? A urinal puck? Something else?
As it dries, the tuberose softens some, allowing the creamy woods to come forward (although it's, to me, less woods and more creamy/white floral mixed with something that may at moments come across like rosewood). Every now and then, there's a faint citrusy vibe that I am going to say is the mandarin orange (but that's a really optimistic claim from what I'm smelling on my skin).
When I sniffed it on my husband, there is more of a soft sandalwood-esque essence that comes through, and I do like how his skin picks up more of the wood note, but overall this is pretty mild in the wood department, and very very tuberose (without the rubber tire, intense blast that I tend to appreciate, and much more soft and reminiscent of gardenia).
It's pretty. I would never be able to get away with it on a muggy summer day here in the south though. It sits on my skin and humidity would turn it into a smothering blanket of nope. However, I can see this being a bright pick-me-up in the dark dull days of winter, where you need something cheerful, comforting, and, dare I say, pretty.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Eau Duelle by Diptyque
I blind grabbed this morning, and have to admit that I was pretty happy when Eau Duelle was the pick. This is one I've loved for years, but I wanted to get another sample because I was (finally) feeling almost ready to buy a bottle, and I wanted to be sure (after having used up several other samples a while ago lol).
This time, though, the husband is on the journey with me, and I am very curious about his take.
According to Luckyscent, these are the notes (for the EDP version): pink peppercorn, juniper berry, cardamom, cypress, frankincense, calamus, Black ceylan tea, cistus, Bourbon vanilla, vanilla pod, vetyver, cypriol, ambroxin.
At first application, he sniffed, smiled, and said, "Oh! I like that!" Immediate pop of wood shavings, a touch of bite, and vanilla. He sniffed a little longer and said, "This reminds me a little of one of those lotions you used to wear when we were dating." Ah, yes, Victoria's Secret vanilla lotion. Every time I walked into a room after putting it on, I'd hear, "I smell chocolate chip cookies!" This does have that vanilla, baked goods undercurrent (especially on me).
As it dries, on him it seems to hold the wood shavings better then it does on me, although he keeps saying it smells like the lotion, and is picking up a lot of vanilla. On me, it goes all snuggly wood-puddingesque, and whispers sweet nothings in my ear while we take long walks on the beach. This really was my first "wood pudding" vibe love, and although it does remind me of Lune Feline (or vice versa) this one has a softer touch with the musk, a little more on the wood, and will always make my heart sigh and melt.
To me, this is the perfect autumn day fragrance. Dark low skies, cold temps, leaves falling from trees, and this on a scarf or wafting around you? Perfection.
On this gray, rainy, tropical storm incoming kind of day, I'm glad that this is what I picked out. It's a perfect reminder to find the joy, the light and bright and sparkly things that make our hearts happy, in life.
This time, though, the husband is on the journey with me, and I am very curious about his take.
According to Luckyscent, these are the notes (for the EDP version): pink peppercorn, juniper berry, cardamom, cypress, frankincense, calamus, Black ceylan tea, cistus, Bourbon vanilla, vanilla pod, vetyver, cypriol, ambroxin.
At first application, he sniffed, smiled, and said, "Oh! I like that!" Immediate pop of wood shavings, a touch of bite, and vanilla. He sniffed a little longer and said, "This reminds me a little of one of those lotions you used to wear when we were dating." Ah, yes, Victoria's Secret vanilla lotion. Every time I walked into a room after putting it on, I'd hear, "I smell chocolate chip cookies!" This does have that vanilla, baked goods undercurrent (especially on me).
As it dries, on him it seems to hold the wood shavings better then it does on me, although he keeps saying it smells like the lotion, and is picking up a lot of vanilla. On me, it goes all snuggly wood-puddingesque, and whispers sweet nothings in my ear while we take long walks on the beach. This really was my first "wood pudding" vibe love, and although it does remind me of Lune Feline (or vice versa) this one has a softer touch with the musk, a little more on the wood, and will always make my heart sigh and melt.
To me, this is the perfect autumn day fragrance. Dark low skies, cold temps, leaves falling from trees, and this on a scarf or wafting around you? Perfection.
On this gray, rainy, tropical storm incoming kind of day, I'm glad that this is what I picked out. It's a perfect reminder to find the joy, the light and bright and sparkly things that make our hearts happy, in life.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Escentric 02 by Escentric Molecules
I grabbed this one today because it was the biggest of the sample vials (and has a spray top). I've been wanting to try this one for a while, so was happy to go directly to it.
The Luckyscent notes for this are: Ambroxan, vetiver, muscone, orris, elderflower.
At first spray, it is bright and happy. But, when it lands on the skin it became a long sniff and then a, "Hmm I think this smells like a grandmother," from my husband lol. He is giving it the benefit of the doubt and promised to let it sit before he judges it much further.
On me, I get the ambroxan weaving among the vetiver and orris. The vetiver gives it a little bit of an edge (vetiver can go a bit astringent like on me, depending on how it is used), and I keep getting something that smells like a citrus note (which may also be the vetiver, but now I'm going to look up elderflower to see if could be contributing to that feel.
Interesting: Elderflower can range from floral-herbal to light and clean to even a bit balsamic, so I'm wondering if that is also contributing a bit to the astringent edge.
As it dries, it feels sheer, weightless. A light easy-to-wear fragrance, that almost feels a bit like being at a perfume counter where there's a bunch of smells vying for each other but somehow they all come together as you walk by.
Surprisingly, my husband just walked back to where I was and declared, "I like this. A lot!" For him, he gets a tiny bit of Irish Spring soap on one arm, but over all it gives him a slightly marine/sunny day feel.
That is a perfect description for this: If you need a recipe for happiness, this just might be it. It's hard to feel crabby or cranky when this light and bright fragrance is weaving around in the room, flirting on the skin, and sending smiles where it goes. I appreciate how sheer and weightless, how clean and bright, it comes across, while still having presence and staying power. Delightful!
The Luckyscent notes for this are: Ambroxan, vetiver, muscone, orris, elderflower.
At first spray, it is bright and happy. But, when it lands on the skin it became a long sniff and then a, "Hmm I think this smells like a grandmother," from my husband lol. He is giving it the benefit of the doubt and promised to let it sit before he judges it much further.
On me, I get the ambroxan weaving among the vetiver and orris. The vetiver gives it a little bit of an edge (vetiver can go a bit astringent like on me, depending on how it is used), and I keep getting something that smells like a citrus note (which may also be the vetiver, but now I'm going to look up elderflower to see if could be contributing to that feel.
Interesting: Elderflower can range from floral-herbal to light and clean to even a bit balsamic, so I'm wondering if that is also contributing a bit to the astringent edge.
As it dries, it feels sheer, weightless. A light easy-to-wear fragrance, that almost feels a bit like being at a perfume counter where there's a bunch of smells vying for each other but somehow they all come together as you walk by.
Surprisingly, my husband just walked back to where I was and declared, "I like this. A lot!" For him, he gets a tiny bit of Irish Spring soap on one arm, but over all it gives him a slightly marine/sunny day feel.
That is a perfect description for this: If you need a recipe for happiness, this just might be it. It's hard to feel crabby or cranky when this light and bright fragrance is weaving around in the room, flirting on the skin, and sending smiles where it goes. I appreciate how sheer and weightless, how clean and bright, it comes across, while still having presence and staying power. Delightful!
Monday, May 25, 2020
Bois d'Hiver by Ex Nihilo
This was another, "Let me reach into the pile and grab what hits my hand first." The notes from Luckyscent are: "Pink pepper, cardamom, heliotrope, cyclamen, white cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, cypriol, musk."
At first application, both of us went, "Ooooh! I like that!" It comes across as clean, masculine, bracing. Almost like a really high-end after shave that hits the skin with a cold edge. It begins to soften immediately though. Within minutes, on him it had leaned into a softer clean linen vibe, with marine undertones. On me, it still held a more astringent edge, but not at all unpleasant.
Story time: as we were sniffing this, I told him that when I was younger (and, maybe, perhaps ummmm even now) when I was at a mall or a conference, if I smelled a particularly wonderful fragrance on someone, I would follow that person or go stand by them for a little while just so I could enjoy. This reminded me of those moments, and I said, "If you walked by me with this on, I'd follow you." This is a great mix of soft on the skin, snuggling pretty close, but still gives enough waft that it gently intrigues and makes me want to get closer.
When I close my eyes and try to picture this as an object, I get a tailored white button down shirt, but the sleeves are rolled up and the top buttons are undone. It has structure, but give. It's a little unapproachable while also being warm and personable. I am enjoying the edges and contrasts.
As it dries further, the patchouli keeps a solid and steady base, but doesn't scream head-shop incense at all. It's simply quietly sitting there in the corner crooning softly at my skin. I think it's the heliotrope that rounds out the edges on this, softening it up a hair, but the other notes are balanced so well that the whole really blends beautifully (no major note stands out or shrieks for attention). I wish I could describe this one better: it's a little powdery, a little soft, but still has a nice bracing edge, and really wears well on both my skin and his. A total win for both of us, surprisingly so. Straight to the top of the list with this one!
At first application, both of us went, "Ooooh! I like that!" It comes across as clean, masculine, bracing. Almost like a really high-end after shave that hits the skin with a cold edge. It begins to soften immediately though. Within minutes, on him it had leaned into a softer clean linen vibe, with marine undertones. On me, it still held a more astringent edge, but not at all unpleasant.
Story time: as we were sniffing this, I told him that when I was younger (and, maybe, perhaps ummmm even now) when I was at a mall or a conference, if I smelled a particularly wonderful fragrance on someone, I would follow that person or go stand by them for a little while just so I could enjoy. This reminded me of those moments, and I said, "If you walked by me with this on, I'd follow you." This is a great mix of soft on the skin, snuggling pretty close, but still gives enough waft that it gently intrigues and makes me want to get closer.
When I close my eyes and try to picture this as an object, I get a tailored white button down shirt, but the sleeves are rolled up and the top buttons are undone. It has structure, but give. It's a little unapproachable while also being warm and personable. I am enjoying the edges and contrasts.
As it dries further, the patchouli keeps a solid and steady base, but doesn't scream head-shop incense at all. It's simply quietly sitting there in the corner crooning softly at my skin. I think it's the heliotrope that rounds out the edges on this, softening it up a hair, but the other notes are balanced so well that the whole really blends beautifully (no major note stands out or shrieks for attention). I wish I could describe this one better: it's a little powdery, a little soft, but still has a nice bracing edge, and really wears well on both my skin and his. A total win for both of us, surprisingly so. Straight to the top of the list with this one!
Friday, May 22, 2020
Slowdive by Hiram Green
Today's fragrance experience was based on grabbing a sample vial based on color alone. This one looks pretty in the vial, a deep ambery color that looks like it should smell amazing.
The fragrance notes for Slowdive from Luckyscent are: neroli, orange flower, tobacco blossom, tuberose, honey, dried fruit, resin.
When I opened the vial, the honey and dried fruit tried to dominate the orange flower, and I thought it could be an interesting combination.
At first application on both his and my skin: Oh, no, this smells like a urinal cake. We both looked at each other and decided that we wouldn't scrub it off, since it does have some potential, but this next half hour may be a little rough on both of us. To be fair, the orange blossom does come forward more, but the dried fruit and honey edge is almost too sweet. There is nothing light or lilting about this at all, and it comes across as something being used to mask other smells.
The longer it sits, it does smooth out, become a bit more mellow. The tobacco flower is coming more forward on me, while the honey is going a bit powdery on him. We both wrinkled our noses and went, "Ehhh."
It does fade down, but the honey becomes even more powdery on me (it seems like it hit a certain point on his skin and decided to hole), the orange blossom fades quite a bit, and the resins lightly slide under it all.
Over all, not a win. For either of us. But I suspect with the right body chemistry, this could be really good. It's just not ours.
The fragrance notes for Slowdive from Luckyscent are: neroli, orange flower, tobacco blossom, tuberose, honey, dried fruit, resin.
When I opened the vial, the honey and dried fruit tried to dominate the orange flower, and I thought it could be an interesting combination.
At first application on both his and my skin: Oh, no, this smells like a urinal cake. We both looked at each other and decided that we wouldn't scrub it off, since it does have some potential, but this next half hour may be a little rough on both of us. To be fair, the orange blossom does come forward more, but the dried fruit and honey edge is almost too sweet. There is nothing light or lilting about this at all, and it comes across as something being used to mask other smells.
The longer it sits, it does smooth out, become a bit more mellow. The tobacco flower is coming more forward on me, while the honey is going a bit powdery on him. We both wrinkled our noses and went, "Ehhh."
It does fade down, but the honey becomes even more powdery on me (it seems like it hit a certain point on his skin and decided to hole), the orange blossom fades quite a bit, and the resins lightly slide under it all.
Over all, not a win. For either of us. But I suspect with the right body chemistry, this could be really good. It's just not ours.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Lune Feline by Atelier des Ors
What better way to spend some time in a pandemic than to convince the husband that he absolutely needs to try some fragrances with me. This is the man who, for most of our marriage, never even drank coffee, but last year decided to do so and discovered that he liked it. I figured I had some decent odds here, so happily went to Luckyscent, wandered through different scent profiles, and came up with a bag of fragrances to try. After impatiently waiting for the goodies to arrive, I set aside time for some sniffs and sorted the fragrances into "our" pile, "his" pile, and "my" pile. He won't know day by day if what he's trying is unisex, masculine, or feminine. And I think we both are looking forward to this journey. (Well, at least I am lol.)
Immediately, Lune Feline by Atelier des Ors made it near the top of the sniff test pile. Today, at the start of this experiment, I decided it would be a good starting point since it's listed as Unisex.
The notes for Lune Feline are: cinnamon, cardamom, pink pepper, green notes, cedar, ambergris, woods, styrax, vanilla, peru balsam, and musk.
I have been looking for a while for the perfect "wood pudding-esque" vibe. Something warm, woody, cozy. That makes me feel all snuggly. This delivers, perfectly, on a moody and cold and rainy day. (I suspect that this would be a bit too heavy for southern summer days, but will be an utter delight in autumn.)
At first application, I could smell the cinnamon, but it faded down pretty quickly. On him, the balsam and some of the cedar stays a bit more forward. On me, the ambergris and vanilla cuddle up together and get sexy. In his words: "This isn't masculine, but I REALLY like it." In my words, "Mmmm."
As it dries down, it holds very well. It reminds me a bit of Diptyque's Eau Duelle, but this has a more caramel edge, and frankly the woods seem to hold up a bit more on his skin as well as mine, although my skin still seems to enjoy hanging on to the vanilla a bit more, also.
Four hours in, and it has faded a lot on him, with faint notes of cedar, a touch of vanilla-y caramel, and the balsam whisping about. My skin seems to be following his trajectory, but may be feeling a bit more defiant in letting it go.
Overall, this is a win for both of us. Perhaps a bit too gourmand for some men, and he did admit that it wouldn't be his first choice, but also agreed that he really liked the smell of it and had no objection to smelling like a caramel wood pudding. For me, as someone who loves gourmands, and how vanilla can play around and soften stronger notes like cedar or woods, this is a perfect treat. I can't wait (already) for autumn to get here. I suspect I will be reaching for it again.
Immediately, Lune Feline by Atelier des Ors made it near the top of the sniff test pile. Today, at the start of this experiment, I decided it would be a good starting point since it's listed as Unisex.
The notes for Lune Feline are: cinnamon, cardamom, pink pepper, green notes, cedar, ambergris, woods, styrax, vanilla, peru balsam, and musk.
I have been looking for a while for the perfect "wood pudding-esque" vibe. Something warm, woody, cozy. That makes me feel all snuggly. This delivers, perfectly, on a moody and cold and rainy day. (I suspect that this would be a bit too heavy for southern summer days, but will be an utter delight in autumn.)
At first application, I could smell the cinnamon, but it faded down pretty quickly. On him, the balsam and some of the cedar stays a bit more forward. On me, the ambergris and vanilla cuddle up together and get sexy. In his words: "This isn't masculine, but I REALLY like it." In my words, "Mmmm."
As it dries down, it holds very well. It reminds me a bit of Diptyque's Eau Duelle, but this has a more caramel edge, and frankly the woods seem to hold up a bit more on his skin as well as mine, although my skin still seems to enjoy hanging on to the vanilla a bit more, also.
Four hours in, and it has faded a lot on him, with faint notes of cedar, a touch of vanilla-y caramel, and the balsam whisping about. My skin seems to be following his trajectory, but may be feeling a bit more defiant in letting it go.
Overall, this is a win for both of us. Perhaps a bit too gourmand for some men, and he did admit that it wouldn't be his first choice, but also agreed that he really liked the smell of it and had no objection to smelling like a caramel wood pudding. For me, as someone who loves gourmands, and how vanilla can play around and soften stronger notes like cedar or woods, this is a perfect treat. I can't wait (already) for autumn to get here. I suspect I will be reaching for it again.
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