My forays into Santa Maria Novella's I Giardini Medicei collection have mainly been successful. So far, I've tried and enjoyed four fragrances from the collection. All four fragrances smell cheerful and happy, radiating a pleasant, sunny disposition. Even the iris (L'Iris) defies preconceived notions one might have of an iris fragrance. There's no sense of … Continue reading Santa Maria Novella – I Giardini Medicei – Quercia
Category: Reviews
Fragrance reviews
Review – Nicolaï – Riviera Verbena – A Trip To The Côte d’Azur
I love the smell of verbena/lemon verbena. I have some growing in the garden, and I love the herbal, lemony, zesty scent created by rubbing the plant between my fingers. There's nothing better at putting a pep in my step on a warm, humid afternoon in the middle of summer than this enlivening aroma. … Continue reading Review – Nicolaï – Riviera Verbena – A Trip To The Côte d’Azur
Perfume Reviews – Bastille Parfums
With the Olympic Games in full swing in Paris, I thought I'd review a French brand with a very French name (Bastille Parfums) offering a range of perfumes I've come to enjoy over the last few months. I initially sampled the brand's perfumes in 2020 and thought they were solid offerings without being mind-blowing. However, … Continue reading Perfume Reviews – Bastille Parfums
Book Review – 1001 Perfumes – The Guide – Daniel Barros
Sunday mornings are always a good time for relaxing and reading a good book. And what better way to do it than with a new perfume book? 1001 Perfumes, The Guide by Daniel Barros is a well-written book for all fragrance enthusiasts. Barros divides the guide into several sections. The opening chapters feature numerous essays, … Continue reading Book Review – 1001 Perfumes – The Guide – Daniel Barros
Review – Arquiste – Limoneros
Review - Arquiste - Limoneros - A Mexican summer bottled 8/10. I confess I purchased Limoneros blind. However, I am not a regular blind buyer. I rarely partake in such silliness. But I knew I'd love Limoneros. The notes, the perfumer, and the bottle looked like the perfect match for my taste. Fortunately, I was … Continue reading Review – Arquiste – Limoneros
Review – Cartier – Eau de Cartier EDT
Perfume Review - Cartier - Eau de Cartier - Violet Leaf Cologne - 8/10. Eau de Cartier might always have been doomed to discontinuation. Cartier's suite of scents and Christine Nagel (the perfumer behind Eau de Cartier) are two of the most underrated entities in fragrance. For whatever reason, the brand's and the perfumer's wares … Continue reading Review – Cartier – Eau de Cartier EDT
Book Review – Atlas Of Perfumed Botany – Jean-Claude Ellena (2022)
Today's post is a book review of Jean-Claude Ellena's 2022 release, Atlas of Perfumed Botany. The book is chock full of anecdotes and industry insights from the renowned composer. I've yet to see any other posts or reviews covering it. In fact, up until recently, I had no idea he had even released it until … Continue reading Book Review – Atlas Of Perfumed Botany – Jean-Claude Ellena (2022)
Perfume Reviews – Claus Porto – Agua de Colonia Collection – The Best Of Portugal In A Perfume Bottle
The story of Portuguese brand Claus Porto dates back over 130 years. Two Germans, Ferdinand Claus and Georges Schweder, founded the brand. Initially, they planned to open a soap factory, taking inspiration from the landscape of Portugal. They did and were very successful, albeit on a local scale. After some years, the brand's accountant, Achilles … Continue reading Perfume Reviews – Claus Porto – Agua de Colonia Collection – The Best Of Portugal In A Perfume Bottle
Reviews – L’Artisan Parfumeur – Le Potager Collection
In 2022, L'Artisan Parfumeur took us to their vegetable garden via their Le Potager collection. It seemed an innovative undertaking on paper, with weird ingredients such as beetroot and cauliflower on the menu. Fruits are a mainstay in perfumery, but vegetables never seem to get much of a look in. But how do these seemingly … Continue reading Reviews – L’Artisan Parfumeur – Le Potager Collection
Review – Tom Ford – Tuscan Leather
Tom Ford - Tuscan Leather - The Archetypal Tom Ford - 9/10. Happy New Year! Hope you are all having a good start to 2024. My first post of the year is a review of a perfume I haven't worn for some months. Indeed, it doesn't work well on my skin in the current summer … Continue reading Review – Tom Ford – Tuscan Leather