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
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
Goodbye Summer – My Summer In Photos and Perfume
Summer is over, so I wanted to summarise what bottles I wore, what fragrances I sampled, and what I photographed during the sunny season. The air was filled with the scent of frangipani, as it is every summer in Brisbane. My garden came to life with lemon verbena, bougainvillea, roses, and many more plants. Riverwalks … Continue reading Goodbye Summer – My Summer In Photos and Perfume
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
Rest in Peace – Alessandro Brun (1973-2024)
Picture courtesy of Masque Milano's Facebook. This morning, I woke to the sad news of the passing of the founder and creative director of Masque Milano and Milano Fragranze, Alessandro Brun. It's a tragic loss for the perfume world but even sadder for his family and friends. I didn't ever interact with Alessandro Brun in … Continue reading Rest in Peace – Alessandro Brun (1973-2024)
Time For A New Look At Dior?
J'Adore - A major hit for Dior. I don't think any of the flankers come close to the original. If there ever were a brand I'd love to see back on top of the fragrance game, it would be Dior. Recent years have seen a marked decline in quality at the house. By a decline … Continue reading Time For A New Look At Dior?
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