All posts filed under: Parfums

Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette

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Says Gucci: “The new scent pulsates with the original fragrance’s inspiration: bamboo, one of the House’s most celebrated and elegant design signatures, and its references in the Gucci woman. The rich woody floral finds new edge with a bright mandarin note. Lighter than the original essence, Gucci Bamboo Eau de Toilette offers alluring insight into the Gucci woman’s sensual, romantic side.” Says me:  A pretty fruity-floral; bright, fresh, a little sparkly, a hint of clean linen, peachy, slightly sweet. An everyday scent. 

Gucci Flora Anniversary Edition Eau de Toilette

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Gucci says: “The Flora Anniversary Edition opens with fresh mandarin and pear edged with the vibrancy of pepper.” My thoughts: A juicy floral with that signature slightly animalic Gucci sexiness (think of that oomph of Gucci Guilty) . A good everyday scent if you love that extra sensuality to complement your outfits. I am loving the brand’s pretty signature florals printed on the base of the bottle. 

Armani Code Profumo

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This new Pour Homme is made to be worn with a sleek tux. Giorgio Armani Parfums: “Alluring, powerful, fiery, the classic Code base of tonka bean has been amplified by a sensual woody-ambery accord and notes of burnt styrax wood.  …The green mandarin essence, crisp green apple and cardamom essence…the freshness continues with aromatic lavender notes and nutmeg essence coloured by … orange blossom at its heart…Warmed by tonka bean absolute with its accents of tobacco…enveloped in a suggestive woody-ambery accord. The supple leather of notes of the styrax essence meld … with praline sweetness.”    My thoughts: I did not get a single whiff of freshness. What hit me immediately is a heavy tonka bean, and ambery sweetness. With just the slightest hint of tobacco.  This eau de parfum is not made for the faint-hearted man; you would need enough confidence and sophistication to wear it. And for sure, it is made to be worn with at least a shirt and pants. This is not your T-shirt and jeans fragrance. And because this perfume …

Hugo Boss Woman Extreme

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To be honest, I don’t usually like the bottled juices of run-of-the-mill luxury labels. They pretty much all smell the same if you ask me. Just because the marketers only want the perfumers to make tried-and-tested accords that they know (or think) will sell, based on past successful blockbusters. Anyway back to Hugo Boss’ latest offering.  It is actually quite good for a regular department store juice. An EDP, here’s what it says on the box: “A boost of freshness and feminity where floral notes collide with revitalising black tea.  Top notes: boosted boysenberry and Himalayan red grass Heart notes: revitalising black tea and jasmine Base notes: feminine osmanthus” — My thoughts: Light and youthful floral with a berry accord that is not sickly saccharine sweet. Probably because a hint of the tea accord lends it some earthiness. Smells better when sprayed on clothes; relatively long-lasting.

How to wear scents

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Spritz and go? A no-brainer right? Not really.     There is an art and science to wearing scents. Especially in humid weather.  Here’s what to note: 💦 Slathering on unscented body lotions first to help a perfume “stick” is one way. But in this hot and humid weather, body creams might be the last thing you want to wear.  An alternative is to let the scent “cling” elsewhere, such as your clothes and hair.  I find that scents hardly last all day on my skin – unless it is super duper expensive such as Frederic Malle’s potions.  A point to note though: spritz scents onto clothes from an arm’s length away. So only tiny droplets settle on your dress or blouse, not a direct spray that leaves behind a splotch that is inpossible to remove (from silks especially). 💦 Imagine the warm spots of your skin as “diffusers”. They are keep the scent molecules wafting towards your nose and others’. 💦 Sprtiz, dab, press; but don’t rub on perfumes. The scent molecules should settle on …

Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial L’eau 

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Guerlain: “Fresh Amber. Delicate, enveloping, crystalline. Shalimar Parfum Initial L’Eau highlights an unexpected concentration of citrus notes, bergamot and neroli. Jasmine blends with the fresh top notes and leaves a delicate, sensual and luminous trail. The vanilla and tonka bean base adds a gourmand almond facet, the very essence of Shalimar. For Shalimar Parfum Initial L’Eau, the Guerlain Perfumer composed a unique jasmine absolute. Jasmine is used in a communelle, a blend of different natural essences. It combines grandiflora jasmine from Grasse, India and Egypt to give a subtle and evanescent character to the fragrance.” My notes: This reinterpretation of the 1925 classic by Jacque Guerlain is a light floral, with hints of the gourmand accord. Although much fresher than the original, it still maintains that old-world glamour character. 

L’Artisan Parfumeur Skin On Skin Eau de Parfum 

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L’Artisan: “Skin on Skin awakens our animalistic instincts – to touch, to get closer, to smell. It merges a sensual iris with a suede, velvet leather. The intertwining of saffron, whisky, lavender and rose, melts into musks and skin effects. A carnal creation to be used without moderation. Notes: Safran, leathery notes, Iris, Musc ” My thoughts: Deep and rich saccharine sweet with the heart of a sensual and musky floral. Classic and rather old-fashioned.

Etat Libre D’Orange Like This Eau de Parfum

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Etat Libre D’Orange: Ginger from Indonesia, pumpkin, tangerine, immortal flower, Moroccan neroli, rose, spicy notes, vetiver, woody notes, musk, heliotrope, carrot seeds, cumin seeds A fragrance by the ethereal Tilda Swinton, inspired by the poet and sage Rumi My thoughts:  So unique. And one of the most beautiful perfumes I’ve ever sniffed. A gourmand fragrance; warm, cosy, aromatic, candied ginger, cinnamon, heady, seductive, musky