Guerlain – Patchouli Paris – Soft, Elegant & Overpriced

Guerlain pairs patchouli with iris in their latest fragrance. For whatever reason, I thought that Guerlain's new Patchouli Paris would be another in the long line of rose/patchouli scents. Thankfully, it's not. No doubt, the reference to Paris in the name, the color of the perfume, and the association we have linking rose with patchouli caused me to come … Continue reading Guerlain – Patchouli Paris – Soft, Elegant & Overpriced →

Papillon Artisan Perfumes – Epona – “Memories Light The Corners Of My Mind”

Epona isn't quite as idyllic as this scene, but it's close. "Memories light the corners of my mind." Something about that Barbra Streisand lyric from her melancholic 70's hit struck me when I sprayed Papillon's latest perfume, Epona. Liz Moore's most recent launch pays homage to her horse, and although I'm not a "horse guy" or … Continue reading Papillon Artisan Perfumes – Epona – “Memories Light The Corners Of My Mind” →

Akro – Glow – The Most Boring Party Ever

Akros's previous Harrods exclusive, East, came across as a poorly composed Tuscan Leather clone. So, I didn't go into smelling their newest fragrance, Glow, dedicated to nightclubbing and parties (a Harrods exclusive for a few months before a worldwide release in 2024) with great confidence. I was right to be coy. Glow smells clichéd and … Continue reading Akro – Glow – The Most Boring Party Ever →

Caron Paris – Pour Un Homme de Caron Parfum – Lavender For The Win

I finally managed to get some flowers blooming on my lavender. I've no idea how I did it, but we have had some quite rainy days here over the last couple of weeks. Perhaps lavender likes the rain? Or does it prefer dry weather or a combination of both? Who knows. And who knows how … Continue reading Caron Paris – Pour Un Homme de Caron Parfum – Lavender For The Win →

Obvious – Scoville – Red Hot Chili Peppers (Somewhat)

Scoville goes against the trends. It's not sweet but savoury. But I wonder if it's spicy and savoury enough with sufficient throw to make an impact. There's no doubt it goes on smelling of chilli. The opening bars smell vegetal, green, and spicy. There are hints of earthiness and smokiness to mimic the taste sensation … Continue reading Obvious – Scoville – Red Hot Chili Peppers (Somewhat) →

Carner Barcelona – Revolución – Not Just Another Tuscan Leather Clone

We didn't need another TL clone. Fortunately, Carner Barcelona delivers something different. When I saw the initial reviews comparing Revolución to Tuscan Leather, I wasn't overly enthused about sampling Carner Barcelona's 2023 release. But as fate would have it, I received a sample of the scent as a gift with purchase. I sprayed it on … Continue reading Carner Barcelona – Revolución – Not Just Another Tuscan Leather Clone →

Infiniment Coty Paris – Quantity Over Quality

Pictured above is Coty's line of stackable bottles. I have no idea who requested such bottles, but here we are. One of this year's higher-profile releases came from the house of Coty. After much time in the wilderness, they returned to the fragrance world with an enormous collection of 14 scents (a real red flag) … Continue reading Infiniment Coty Paris – Quantity Over Quality →

Juliette Has A Gun – Ex Vetiver – Basic Vetiver

The new JHAG is dedicated to men. Romano Ricci, the brains behind Juliette Has A Gun (JHAG), seems like such an interesting character. He's one of the founders of Nose Paris and the great-grandson of Nina Ricci. In addition, he's the grandson of the celebrated perfumer Robert Ricci (L'air du Temps). They're impressive roots, to … Continue reading Juliette Has A Gun – Ex Vetiver – Basic Vetiver →

Tom Ford – Black Lacquer – Back In Black?

Do you secretly hope to hate new-release perfumes whenever you try them for the first time so you're not tempted to buy them? Or is that just me? I haven't had to worry about Tom Ford's releases being up to the mark for some time. Their flood of fragrances featuring ever more juvenile names and … Continue reading Tom Ford – Black Lacquer – Back In Black? →

Fragonard -Flower of the Year 2024 – Lilas

I haven't seen many lilacs growing in my part of the world, but I did have some of these butterfly-bush plants (also known as summer lilacs) blooming in my yard at one point. Every year since 2010, the famous Grasse-based perfume house Fragonard releases a "Flower of the Year Perfume." We've had, among others, jasmine, … Continue reading Fragonard -Flower of the Year 2024 – Lilas →