Emporio Armani - Stronger With You - Stupid name, ok fragrance, 5.5/10. Armani has set the bar relatively low with recent men's releases. Flanker after endless flanker for Acqua di Gio and Code rolling of the production line at seemingly breakneck speed. Released in 2017, Stronger With You (a whole new scent) is a companion … Continue reading Mini Reviews – Guilty Pleasures – Past & Present – Emporio Armani & Jean Paul Gaultier
Mini Reviews – Xerjoff & L’Artisan Parfumeur – Fruity Fun – Erba Pura, Mandarina Corsica, Bana Banana.
Xerjoff - Erba Pura - Shampoo masquerading as perfume - 3/10. I'm not a fan of this one at all. The fruity notes are sugary, sweet, and more akin to bubblegum than actual fruit. Far too sickly for my taste. The amber and vanilla in the base do little to quell my anxieties. They merely … Continue reading Mini Reviews – Xerjoff & L’Artisan Parfumeur – Fruity Fun – Erba Pura, Mandarina Corsica, Bana Banana.
Cold as Ice – Serge Lutens – L’Eau Froide
Well, winter has almost arrived here in my part of the world. And this week, the weather has well and truly turned. Nothing but rain for the last few days. Unusually for South East Queensland, where we generally enjoy dry, sunny autumn/winter months. However, in typical annual fashion, the Snowflake tree in my backyard is … Continue reading Cold as Ice – Serge Lutens – L’Eau Froide
New Week, New Rose
It's a long weekend here, a public holiday Monday, but the new week has begun for most. Over the last several days, I've watched and documented this orange rose in my garden growing. Most of this week was sunny, but it did rain once, I think, giving the rose the impetus to spring into life. … Continue reading New Week, New Rose
Reviews – Guerlain – Habit Rouge
Guerlain - Habit Rouge EDT - All Time Classic 10/10. So, the word is on the grapevine that Guerlain is coming up with a new flanker for their classic, Habit Rouge. L'Instinct is the name, and it features a green heart, including a cannabis note. The initial impressions I've read haven't been overly complimentary. But … Continue reading Reviews – Guerlain – Habit Rouge
First Impressions – Eris Parfums
Eris Parfums. Image from erisparfums.com. Barbara Herman has many strings to her bow, a blogger, author of the book Scent and Subversion, lover of vintage perfume, and now founder of the brand Eris Parfums. The house was established in 2016 with an initial release of three fragrances. Since then, four other perfumes have followed. Antoine … Continue reading First Impressions – Eris Parfums
Mini Reviews – Fragrant Fougeres and Alluring Aromatics – Trudon & Dusita
Trudon - Olim - Powdery, spicy with a touch of Guerlain- 7/10. The other day I was waxing lyrical about the fragrances from luxury French candlemaker, Trudon. Aphelie, released last year, is a brilliant green scent that I had just sampled and thoroughly enjoyed. However, please don't sleep on the rest of their line. Olim … Continue reading Mini Reviews – Fragrant Fougeres and Alluring Aromatics – Trudon & Dusita
First Impressions – Fleeting Freshness – Tauer Perfumes & Heeley Paris
Tauer Perfumes - Cologne du Maghreb - This isn't a new release. Instead, it's a 2021 reissue of a 2011 perfume. However, I'd never tried it before. The citrus/herbal opening combination of clementine, lemon, lavender, and petitgrain is refreshing and fizzy. The overriding impression is of a cooling glass of lemonade on a warm sunny day. … Continue reading First Impressions – Fleeting Freshness – Tauer Perfumes & Heeley Paris
First Impressions – Spicy Scents – Penhaligon’s, Miller et Bertaux
Penhaligon's - Babylon & Constantinople - I've been quite vocal in my disdain for a couple of scents in this "Trade Routes" line. In particular, Halfeti Leather, the variation on Halfeti that none of us needed. Well, me especially. However, two recent additions to the line that have surprised me are Babylon & Constantinople. Below … Continue reading First Impressions – Spicy Scents – Penhaligon’s, Miller et Bertaux
Mini Reviews – Tom Ford – Bitter Peach, Vert des Bois, Vert Boheme
Tom Ford - Bitter Peach - Bitter indeed. 3/10. Tom Ford giveth and Tom Ford taketh away. I think Tom Ford has taken away my sense of smell and taste in perfume. Everyone I know loves this Private Blend scent, but I'm not one of them. There's something a little off with this one that … Continue reading Mini Reviews – Tom Ford – Bitter Peach, Vert des Bois, Vert Boheme