First Impressions – JHAG, Goldfield & Banks – Bubble Gum?

Lili Fantasy. Bottle image from Fragrantica. Juliette Has a Gun - Lili Fantasy - I'm not going to lie, this house has been highly disappointing. Most things I've tried have gone down like a lead balloon. Nothing memorable. Lili Fantasy joins that list. But at least they're consistent, huh? Lili Fantasy, Juliette Has a Gun's (JHAG) … Continue reading First Impressions – JHAG, Goldfield & Banks – Bubble Gum? →

First Impressions – Amouage – Boundless

Boundless bottle. Image from Fragrantica. Amouage - Boundless - I rarely enjoy the men's Amouage releases more than the women's. Yet, that's precisely the position I found myself in after sampling Boundless. Amouage released the fragrance simultaneously in 2021 with the women's marketed, Material. Boundless is an easy scent to like, with a hard price tag … Continue reading First Impressions – Amouage – Boundless →

First Impressions – Jusbox

I had wanted to try the fragrances from Jusbox for some time now. Milanese siblings Andrea and Chiaro Valdo founded the brand in 2016, with the goal of linking music with perfume. They already have 15 perfumes to their name. I received their "Greatest Hits" package as a gift for Christmas from a relative and … Continue reading First Impressions – Jusbox →

First Impressions – Amouage – Material and Dior – Vanilla Diorama

Amouage - Material - Amouage Material slipped under my radar. I'm still yet to try Boundless, the male release that accompanied it. As it turns out, I might have been just as well forgetting about Material. It feels like a mediocre effort from a house with the prestige of Amouage. This sort of balsamic ambery vanilla … Continue reading First Impressions – Amouage – Material and Dior – Vanilla Diorama →

First Impressions – Dolce & Gabbana

2 New flankers image via Google. What a strange old year, huh? World in constant flux, but perfume releases continue unabated. Nothing seems to slow that down. But, as we approach the end of the year, I'm left scratching my head thinking of my favourite releases for the year. One brand that I didn't think … Continue reading First Impressions – Dolce & Gabbana →

First Impressions – BDK, Tom Ford

BDK Parfums - Velvet Tonka - A bit of a misstep from BDK with their latest scent, Velvet Tonka. It opens up promisingly enough with a sweet vanillic almond mix that evokes the smell of marzipan and other such delicacies. However, before too long, the star of the show tonka accord starts to make its way … Continue reading First Impressions – BDK, Tom Ford →

First Impressions – Kilian – The Liquors Collection

Earlier this year, I sampled Kilian's much-hyped Angels Share from their "Liquors Line." I enjoyed that scent but found its gourmand profile similar to a few others I've tested before. So, in the interest of completeness, today's blog post will feature my thoughts on the three other perfumes in the series. Kilian - Roses on … Continue reading First Impressions – Kilian – The Liquors Collection →

First Impressions – Milano Fragranze

Golden hour in Milan - Photo courtesy of Matteo Raimondi unsplash.com Brand Introduction Alessandro Brun is the brains behind the new Italian niche brand, Milano Fragranze. Does his name ring a bell? Well, if you're a fan of niche perfumery, you probably know Sig. Brun from his work with the brilliant Italian niche house, Masque … Continue reading First Impressions – Milano Fragranze →

First Impressions – Synthetic Jungle, Frederic Malle

Well, it's finally here. The long wait is over. Rose & Cuir was the house's last release, and it was a slow burner on me. It took me several samples before I warmed to it. It seems Synthetic Jungle may be the same. I've tested it twice now, and I'm still on the fence. I … Continue reading First Impressions – Synthetic Jungle, Frederic Malle →

First Impressions – Penhaligon’s, Frapin

Penhaligon's - The Inimitable William Penhaligon - I'm a fan of this brand, but I can't for the life of me work out why this "Portraits" line from Penhaligon's is so beloved. Most of the compositions I've tried from the line are uninspired and come top-loaded before the thin dry down inevitably disappoints. Their latest release … Continue reading First Impressions – Penhaligon’s, Frapin →