Month: January 2012

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Creed Aventus Fragrance Review

* Inspired by the life of an historic emperor who lived his life on his own terms.

* Starts with fruity bouquet of pineapple, black currant, and bergamot.

* Fresh, but not transparent.

* Light patchouli in the middle balances the floral, rose middle notes.

* The leather-embossed flask adds to the manly feel.

* The vanilla and amber base notes are more dry than sweeet.

* Office-friendly; wears close to the skin and lasts for a full workday.

Summary:  Aventus is a very nice upscale fragrance and is a great introduction to the world of Creed for someone looking to break out of mainstream fragrances and find something more signature, yet not go too far out of their safety zone.  Bear in mind though that this is one of the more modern fragrances from the house and quite different from their classic powerhouses like Bois Du Portugal.

Creed fragrances are available from Neiman Marcus, select Nordstrom and the Creed Boutique.   If you live in South Florida, I strongly recommend that you reach out to Eduardo, the Creed representative at the Bal Harbour Neiman Marcus.  If you live in Nashville, Byron at Green Hills Nordstrom is quite exceptional as well.

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Fragrance Reviews

Guerlain Le Voyou Fragrance Review

Voyou means rascal or criminal in French.

Top notes of bergamot, coriander, and pink pepper give an initial energetic blast on first spray.

Le Voyou was inspired by Arsene Lupin, a fictional character from detective novels written by French writer Maurice Leblanc.

Warm sandalwood anchors the fragrance as notes of light patchouli and cardamom develop.

Wears a little more subtle than its brother fragrance, Le Dandy.

A light skin scent that makes a nice transition from day to evening.

The unique wood-framed bottle looks like a piece of modern art.

Summary: Le Voyou is subtle yet strong.  It doesn’t project like a powerhouse, but it definitely takes you on a nice journey as it stays close to the skin.   When wearing it, I will forget about it, breathe in and enjoy a fresh whiff.

Though Voyou is available from Neiman Marcus, I would recommend that you contact Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas as their customer service is beyond impeccable, and they carry a complete line of all Guerlain fragrances.

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Fragrance Reviews Mainstream Monday

Mainstream Monday – Calvin Klein CK One Shock Fragrance Review

* The name is accurate as CK One Shock is unlike anything else in their fragrance line.

* An initial blast of cucumber, red bull, and clementine will wake you up.

* Imagine a more mature version of Joop with the same amount of spunk and you get the idea of Shock..

* Peppery spices and cardamom are in the heart and last for several hours – though the fruit stays present throughout.

* Stick with the male version as the female version is a complete bore.

* A very clean patchouli is in the base but it’s the amber and musk that really stand out.

* As an aromatic oriental, this is easily wearable for anyone from teenage to middle age. So if you have a young friend who is wearing Axe, this would be a great gift.

Summary:  When I first heard about the red bull note, I was instantly excited for this frag.  On first sniff I was enamored and wearing it made me fall in love.  It reminds me of both my college workhorse (Joop) and one of my favorite Creeds (Original Santal.)  CK One Shock for men is a very good fragrance that will work for anyone.

** Question:  What was your favorite fragrance in college (or high school)?  Do you still wear it today?

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Fragrance Reviews

J05EPH K 0 Cologne Fragrance Review


 

* Imagine cologne to be like wine: this one is produced in micro batches and allowed to age for 60 days before bottling to insure complete development.

* Top notes of bergamot and white pepper blend to zesty yet slightly sweet opening.

* Slight projection but stays close to the skin, so its an office-friendly scent.

* The ozone note in mid-development, popular in many fragrances, is reminiscent of the smell of air after a thunderstorm.

* With a very modern luxury feel, violet and cashmere also appear during the middle.

* Lasting more than eight hours on the skin, the dry down is a very clean musk with a subtle flavor of wood and oak moss.

Summary:  While 0 is not something I would normally reach for, it would be a great choice for someone who wants to play it safe yet have a taste of modern edge.  It feels like an upgraded luxury version of many of the modern trends – pepper, ozone – but a bit more special in the execution.

0 cologne is available to sample and purchase through the J05EPH K website.

** Question of the Day:  Are you more likely to buy a micro batch or limited edition version of a fragrance than one that is morely available?  Why or why not?