Reviews – Guerlain, Serge Lutens, Byredo

Guerlain - L'Instant Pour Homme - A modern day classic from Guerlain 9/10 The lemon burst at the top of L'Instant Pour Homme Edt may lull one into thinking this may be another anonymous citrus. However, the magic of this Guerlain masterpiece becomes evident half an hour into development, as the lavender, sandalwood, patchouli and … Continue reading Reviews – Guerlain, Serge Lutens, Byredo →

First Impressions – Jul et Mad, Maison Sybarite, Parfums Dusita, Floris

Jul et Mad - Stairway to Heaven* - A cold, cloudy fragrance of aldehydes, red berries and musk's that evokes Mure et Musc from L'Artisan Parfumeur minus the luminous blackberry note. Does a reasonable job convincing the wearer of its inspiration of hiking through the mountainous Himalayas. Doesn't seem quite as approachable as the blackberry … Continue reading First Impressions – Jul et Mad, Maison Sybarite, Parfums Dusita, Floris →

Building a Fragrance Wardrobe

How many fragrances does one need? It's a very subjective question. Each individual person is different, but nobody, unless you're a serious collector needs 100s or even 1000s of fragrances. It just isn't possible to get through them in a lifetime. Of course variety is the spice of life, and it is always good to … Continue reading Building a Fragrance Wardrobe →

Something Different for Summer – Rhubarb

Sick of the usual citrus colognes for warm weather. Consider the tart, fresh, fruity sweetness of rhubarb in your next summer scent. Here's a few fragrance suggestions to get you started. Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate - I'm not the biggest fan of this cologne line from Hermes, but I quite enjoy this minimalist rhubarb, … Continue reading Something Different for Summer – Rhubarb →

First Impressions – Bottega Veneta, Dolce and Gabbana, Davidoff, 100 Bon, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany and Co, Hermes

Bottega Veneta - Illusione for Him - Bottega Veneta has an enviable back catalogue of fragrances that I place high on the designer pedestal so Illusione had a lot to live up to, and does it? Well not quite. It isn't as bad as what I've read online, but it is a fairly redundant release … Continue reading First Impressions – Bottega Veneta, Dolce and Gabbana, Davidoff, 100 Bon, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany and Co, Hermes →

First Impressions – Nishane, Tauer, Teo Cabanel, Strangers Parfumerie, Liquides Imaginaires, Note di Profumum

Nishane - Ambra Calabria* - I've not encountered anything by this Turkish house I've at least not liked. Ambra Calabria is no exception. A green, citrus scent with a wonderful sweet amber and vanilla dry down. The sweet notes never become cloying and the fresh green notes combine with the citrus (bergamot) at the top … Continue reading First Impressions – Nishane, Tauer, Teo Cabanel, Strangers Parfumerie, Liquides Imaginaires, Note di Profumum →

First Impressions – Frederic Malle, Le Labo

Frederic Malle and Le Labo are two of the largest, most well-known niche houses in the game. When they release a new fragrance, I'm always interested in testing them out. Over the last couple of weeks, I sampled their two new releases, Rose and Cuir and Baie 19, and I was underwhelmed by them both. … Continue reading First Impressions – Frederic Malle, Le Labo →

First Impressions – Costume National

Italian fashion house Costume National recently released two new fragrances onto the market. The fragrances named, I and J are intended to explore the balance between the fashion cultures of Italy and Japan. I managed to get my hands on a couple of samples. Below are my first impressions. Costume National I - Julien Rasquinet … Continue reading First Impressions – Costume National →

Reviews – L’Artisan Parfumeur, Atelier Cologne, Frederic Malle, Oscar de la Renta

L'Artisan Parfumeur - Timbuktu - Into the Wild 9/10 A dry, smoky, spicy vetiver that I initially did not like when I first tried it over 10 years ago. The combination of papyrus and vetiver was too dry. I've begun to appreciate it more over the years. The smoky nuances of the incense, the fruity … Continue reading Reviews – L’Artisan Parfumeur, Atelier Cologne, Frederic Malle, Oscar de la Renta →

Reviews – Histoires de Parfums, Olfactive Studio

Histories de Parfums, 1899 Hemingway - Juniper, Cinnamon 8/10 Juniper and cinnamon are a couple of my favourite notes, and they're featured prominently in 1899 Hemingway. Vanilla also plays a starring role, in a fragrance often compared to Spicebomb. I see the comparisons, but I think this is smoother, and less pepper dominant. Creamy, smooth … Continue reading Reviews – Histoires de Parfums, Olfactive Studio →