First Impressions – Parfum d’Empire – Un Bel Amour D’été

It is a perfume for gardenia lovers and lovers of white florals. First Impressions - Parfum d'Empire - Un Bel Amour D’été - One of the best modern noses, Marc Antoine Corticchiato of Parfum d'Empire fame is back with a new perfume. I own one fragrance from the house, Cuir Ottoman, but several others hover … Continue reading First Impressions – Parfum d’Empire – Un Bel Amour D’été →

First Impressions – Chanel – Comète

Another iris for Chanel? It's always an event when Chanel releases a new perfume. And it's even more of an event when that release forms part of their higher-end Les Exclusifs collection. Indeed, it's been some time since their last offering, the smouldering amber Le Lion, hit the shelves. Undoubtedly, that perfume was a departure … Continue reading First Impressions – Chanel – Comète →

First Impressions – Zoologist -Rabbit

This year, I'm committed to trying perfumes that are a little out of my comfort zone. So, I seized the opportunity to procure a sample of Zoologist's latest, Rabbit. It's a gourmand scent, and I don't usually gravitate towards this style of perfume. But the marketing material promised a gourmand-leaning scent with green characteristics. I was … Continue reading First Impressions – Zoologist -Rabbit →

Snowflake Season – Zoologist – Penguin & Imaginary Authors – The Language Of Glaciers

'Tis the season for snowflake trees! In late May and into June, my garden's snowflake trees (euphorbia leucocephala from the same genus as the poinsettia) bloom. It's the only way I'll ever get to see "snow" in winter in my part of the world. They have no scent, but their white flowers attract butterflies and … Continue reading Snowflake Season – Zoologist – Penguin & Imaginary Authors – The Language Of Glaciers →

First Impressions – Marc-Antoine Barrois – Tilia

I don't have any linden trees near me, but this golden penda closely represents the scent of Tilia. In April, I wrote about the French ceramics house Astier de Villate and their lovely linden scent, Grand Chalet First Impressions – Astier de Villatte – Grand Chalet. Now comes another linden-focused perfume from the dynamic duo … Continue reading First Impressions – Marc-Antoine Barrois – Tilia →

First Impressions – Parfums De Marly – Perseus

Perseus opens brightly and optimistically. I don't particularly revel in writing negative reviews. But, to maintain balance and a credible critical outlook, I think it's essential to weed out the bad from the good, communicating the full range of my views. Indeed, I'd love for every perfume to be a classic, but that isn't the … Continue reading First Impressions – Parfums De Marly – Perseus →

First Impressions – Marie Jeanne

Marie Jeanne is a small fragrance house from Grasse, the centre of the perfume universe. The brand, founded in 2014 by Georges Maubert (fifth generation of the fragrance manufacturer Robertet family), is named in tribute to Maubert's grandmother. Georges Maubert has an interesting history that includes working as a Chanel intern under the tutelage of … Continue reading First Impressions – Marie Jeanne →

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 →