Fragonard -Flower of the Year 2024 – Lilas

I haven't seen many lilacs growing in my part of the world, but I did have some of these butterfly-bush plants (also known as summer lilacs) blooming in my yard at one point. Every year since 2010, the famous Grasse-based perfume house Fragonard releases a "Flower of the Year Perfume." We've had, among others, jasmine, … Continue reading Fragonard -Flower of the Year 2024 – Lilas →

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 →

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 →

First Impressions – Miller et Bertaux – Aymara

Pictured above is my burgeoning collection of scents from the French house. First Impressions - Miller et Bertaux - Aymara - There's only a handful of brands I actively seek out for their new release perfumes. One of those brands is the French designers Miller et Bertaux. Their offerings are generally well-made, unpretentious, and relatively affordable. … Continue reading First Impressions – Miller et Bertaux – Aymara →

Ode to Le Labo

Exterior of Le Labo Brisbane. Le Labo recently opened up a new store in Brisbane. It's very exciting and inspiring, especially with September being the month of City Exclusives. It's so exhilarating I wrote a poem. Tis the season to be jolly.Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.City Exclusives in my trolley.Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.Sell my assets to afford these.Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.Ten dollars … Continue reading Ode to Le Labo →

First Impressions – Thameen – Fanfare & Bohemian Infusion

Flower Markets of Covent Garden - The inspiration for Fanfare. This picture is from my own flower market. Ex Amouage creative director Christopher Chong took over the reins at British brand Thameen in 2021. That's likely a good thing in the long run. However, it's not entirely off to the most promising start with these … Continue reading First Impressions – Thameen – Fanfare & Bohemian Infusion →

First Impressions – BORNTOSTANDOUT Part 1

Rose features in no fewer than 4 of these first 6 perfumes from the Korean brand BORNTOSTANDOUT. I always set about smelling new perfumes/brands with an open mind. But, the suggestive in-your-face style provocative marketing from the new Korean brand BORNTOSTANDOUT (yes, their name is in all CAPS) rubbed me a bit the wrong way. … Continue reading First Impressions – BORNTOSTANDOUT Part 1 →

First Impressions – Parle Moi De Parfum – Wake Up World

Parle Moi de Parfum's latest is a blast from the past. Image from Google. Parle Moi de Parfum - Wake Up World - As we know, fragrance can transport us back in time. And Michel Almairac's/Parle Moi de Parfum's new Wake Up World transports me back to my high school days in the mid-nineties. For you … Continue reading First Impressions – Parle Moi De Parfum – Wake Up World →

First Impressions – Eight & Bob – Agneta, Guéthary

I'm nothing less than disappointed with the two latest releases from Eight & Bob. Unfortunately, and for two different reasons, they fail to impress. Eight & Bob - Agneta - Agneta begins with an interplay of spices. Cardamom, nutmeg, and pepper give this extrait a decent punchy opening. However, it quickly unravels. The middle phase … Continue reading First Impressions – Eight & Bob – Agneta, Guéthary →

First Impressions – Initio, Paragon & Arquiste, Indigo Smoke

In my blog post last week, I discussed the Rasei Fort scent, Kolonya, and how it made me think of the colour purple. This week, I sampled two new fragrances that were potential "purple" candidates, Initio's Paragon and Arquiste's Indigo Smoke. Inito's Paragon comes the closest to making me think of that colour. And despite … Continue reading First Impressions – Initio, Paragon & Arquiste, Indigo Smoke →