First Impressions – Akro – Infuse

Before I get into my impressions of Akro's latest tea scent, Infuse, I'll give my quick opinion of their East. East, previously a Harrods exclusive, now has worldwide distribution and mixes Tom Ford-style raspberry-tinged leather with faux Arabian oud. It's a cover version of a carbon copy of a duplicate of a recurrent theme we've … Continue reading First Impressions – Akro – Infuse →

First Impressions – Serge Lutens – La Fille Tour De Fer

Bret Michaels was wrong! Not every rose has its thorn—well, at least in the case of this new rose from Serge Lutens, La Fille Tour de Fer. To be fair to Bret, it seems as though Serge and Sheldrake deliberately removed any thorns, edginess, or nuance from La Fille Tour de Fer. The brand's note … Continue reading First Impressions – Serge Lutens – La Fille Tour De Fer →

First Impressions – Astier de Villatte – Grand Chalet

The Colours of Grand Chalet. It's taken me a while to discover the Parisian ceramics brand Astier de Villatte (https://www.astierdevillatte.com/en/), but better late than never. The brand has been around since the mid-90s and has been making fragrances since 2008. Their portfolio currently has 13 perfumes. Employing world-renowned perfumers such as Dominique Ropion, Christophe Raynaud, … Continue reading First Impressions – Astier de Villatte – Grand Chalet →

First Impressions – Aedes de Venustas – Café Tabac

Supposedly inspired by an East Village bar frequented by Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, and Madonna, Aedes de Venustas's latest Café Tabac leaves me cold. Rather than an edgy hip bar, it reminds me more of a carnival fun park. It's too sweet, and my tolerance for this style of perfume is low. So, take my … Continue reading First Impressions – Aedes de Venustas – Café Tabac →

First Impressions – Memo Paris – Inverness – Nothing Like Scotland

The River Ness looking towards Inverness Castle. Memo Paris's latest scent, Inverness, seems like a missed opportunity. It doesn't smell like Inverness or Scotland. I should know, as I was born in the Highland capital. My mum is Scottish, and my dad is Australian. I lived in Inverness until I was 6-7 years old before … Continue reading First Impressions – Memo Paris – Inverness – Nothing Like Scotland →

First Impressions – Initio – Narcotic Delight

Narcotic Delight - Picture courtesy of Initio's website. First Impressions - Initio - Narcotic Delight - INITIO Parfums Privés (Initio), purveyors of perfumes promoting performance and projection, are back with another scent bomb. Despite the brand being a darling of YouTubers and the like, I've yet to find one I would ever consider adding to … Continue reading First Impressions – Initio – Narcotic Delight →

First Impressions – Houbigant Paris – Ambre des Abysses

Well, this should be interesting! After I lambasted the new Perris Monte Carlo Shining Moon the other day, it's time to move on to their perfume relative from Paris, Houbigant. Will they cop the same treatment? Not quite. Read my thoughts below. Earlier this year, the French brand released four new scents that supposedly take … Continue reading First Impressions – Houbigant Paris – Ambre des Abysses →

First Impressions – Perris Monte Carlo – Shining Moon

I had high hopes for this scent (Shining Moon). The name alone conjures up all sorts of romantic images. And I'm a fan of a few perfumes from Perris Monte Carlo. Their jasmine (Jasmin de Pays), lavender (Lavande Romaine), and mimosa (Mimosa Tanneron) are among my favourites. Strangely, for some reason, I had it in … Continue reading First Impressions – Perris Monte Carlo – Shining Moon →

First Impressions – Penhaligon’s – Solaris

Solaris - bright and yellow. Very few scents of recent vintage from Penhaligon's have impressed me. And indeed, Solaris doesn't have me doing cartwheels of joy either. However, it's a feel-good fragrance (never a bad thing) radiating good vibes, sunshine, and vitality. Penhaligon's came up with the perfect name. The tropical-themed perfume contains a lot … Continue reading First Impressions – Penhaligon’s – Solaris →

First Impressions – New Niche Scents – BDK – Pas Ce Soir Extrait, Parfums de Marly – Althaïr, Miller Harris – Myrica Muse & Robert Piguet – Zazen

I only have a little to say or write regarding this quartet of perfumes, so I'll bundle my thoughts together in this post. At the outset, I'm glad these companies are making this stuff as it makes it so easy not to buy anything. Three out of the four are very ordinary. My thoughts are … Continue reading First Impressions – New Niche Scents – BDK – Pas Ce Soir Extrait, Parfums de Marly – Althaïr, Miller Harris – Myrica Muse & Robert Piguet – Zazen →