A Christmas scene from a mall in Australia in early November. 'Tis the season to be jolly, and the season of jolliness seems to get longer and longer. I saw ornaments in some areas of Brisbane that were already up in late October. Indeed, some online and many brick-and-mortar stores have been full of festive … Continue reading Top 10 Festive Fragrances
Category: Articles
A Rhyming Acrostic Poem Dedicated To Modern Perfumery
A photo of my hippeastrum flowers growing in my yard. Nothing to do with the poem, but I thought they looked nice. Here's my poem dedicated to the modern perfume world. Monotonus, boring, copied blends. Opulent, lavish, costly spends. Drydowns, have they gone away? Endless newness every day. Roja with his magic tricks. Niche perfumes with … Continue reading A Rhyming Acrostic Poem Dedicated To Modern Perfumery
Fantasy Florals – Hibiscus
Fragrant flowers form the core of perfumery. The scented delights of rose, jasmine, violet, and lavender are integral ingredients in the perfumer's palette. Not all flowers are created equally, though. For instance, very few flowers have the powerful scented punch of a graceful gardenia. The other day, I was walking around the neighbourhood and spotted … Continue reading Fantasy Florals – Hibiscus
D.S. & Durga Report Card
And now, for something completely different, it's time to return to school. During their lunch break, D.S. and Durga hang out with Byredo and Le Labo (and some other cool guys called Atticus, Leopold, and Gulliver), sipping kombucha and listening to Bon Iver and Death Cab for Cutie. In the 2024 yearbook, they are voted … Continue reading D.S. & Durga Report Card
Tobacco Perfumes For Every Season
Late last year, I wrote an article focusing on jasmine perfumes. (Jasmine Perfumes For Every Season) I wanted to showcase four jasmine perfumes, pairing each perfume with a specific season. For instance, I selected the jasmine/citrus combination of California Reverie from Van Cleef & Arpels for summer and the greyer, darker Tapis Volant from Liquides … Continue reading Tobacco Perfumes For Every Season
It’s Not Easy Being Green
I love my greens. Kermit knows what's up! When he sang "It's Not Easy Bein' Green," he was singing about his discontent with life. However, by the song's end, Kermit accepted his "greenness," citing positive examples of being green. Indeed, the song's sentiments can be applied to the fragrance world, as I often think green … Continue reading It’s Not Easy Being Green
Farewell To Frédéric Malle (For Now)
I love that the brand offers a 10ml travel size. F is for Frédéric as in Frédéric Malle, and it was another f-word I muttered when I heard that one of the leading figures in modern perfumery was stepping away from his brand for good in June. I can't, or perhaps I refuse to believe … Continue reading Farewell To Frédéric Malle (For Now)
Goodbye Summer – My Summer In Photos and Perfume
Summer is over, so I wanted to summarise what bottles I wore, what fragrances I sampled, and what I photographed during the sunny season. The air was filled with the scent of frangipani, as it is every summer in Brisbane. My garden came to life with lemon verbena, bougainvillea, roses, and many more plants. Riverwalks … Continue reading Goodbye Summer – My Summer In Photos and Perfume
Rest in Peace – Alessandro Brun (1973-2024)
Picture courtesy of Masque Milano's Facebook. This morning, I woke to the sad news of the passing of the founder and creative director of Masque Milano and Milano Fragranze, Alessandro Brun. It's a tragic loss for the perfume world but even sadder for his family and friends. I didn't ever interact with Alessandro Brun in … Continue reading Rest in Peace – Alessandro Brun (1973-2024)
Time For A New Look At Dior?
J'Adore - A major hit for Dior. I don't think any of the flankers come close to the original. If there ever were a brand I'd love to see back on top of the fragrance game, it would be Dior. Recent years have seen a marked decline in quality at the house. By a decline … Continue reading Time For A New Look At Dior?