Month: May 2012

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Illuminum Orange Blossom Fragrance Review

* Orange Blossom kicks off with orange flower – surprise!  Actually the orange flower is not overly sweet and juicy, spices are there to dry it down.

* The spices are slowly replaced by a quiet oud.  It’s not screaming at first, but you can smell it enter the room.

* The oud is kind of like tequila – you add it to a party and things get interesting.  The oud is joined by a musk that goes a little animalic and gamey, but not all the way to skank.  The orange flower stays present which really accents a contrast.

* After about 6 hours, a sweet zesty incense joins the orange flower to make up the base.

* It calms down to a skin scent that lasts more than 9 hours.

Summary:  When I saw Illuminum Orange Blossom was classified in their musk family, I knew this would be an interesting take.  Mixing oud and flowers is not a new idea, but it’s usually rose which is the flower of choice – using an orange flower was quite unique.  As with all the other Illuminum Haute fragrances I’ve tested, the top broadcasts and then it calms down over time.   This one can easily be for men or women but I definitely see this more for evening than daytime wear.  The oud party in the middle is definitely too much for the office.

Illuminum Haute Perfumes are available from http://www.illuminumperfumelounge.com/ .  They will be available at Henri Bendel in June 2012.

Disclaimer:  Sample provided by Illuminum.  My opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. Image from www.illuminumperfumelounge.com

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Illuminum Tomato Leaf Fragrance Review

* The top is sweet and tangy yet floral and earthy – peach and tomato.

* It sounds strange, but it is fresh and spare with an energizing/invigorating feel.

* The middle is pretty and soft, but not overly feminine, with the peach being joined by waterlilly.

* After about five hours it dries down to a light white musk. Sometimes, I will get a hint of coconut as well.

* The sheer skin scent keeps going more than 12 hours.

Summary:  Is there such a thing as masculine pretty?  Tomato Leaf reminds me of cooking an italian meal in a nice flower garden. The term gourmand refers to scents that remind you of food, but to me that normally implies sweets like chocolate, honey, and vanilla.  This is definitely not that kind of gourmand.   The wear of this scent is quite unique as it comes and goes.  In between the middle and the base there are times I would smell my wrist and it would disappear for 10-15 minutes, but then come back.  I don’t know if that’s my nose getting accustomed to the scent… The longevity of the base notes is incredible – similar to the other scents in the Haute Perfume line, easily lasting until you shower it off.

Illuminum Haute Perfumes are available from http://www.illuminumperfumelounge.com/ .  They will be available at Henri Bendel in June 2012.

Disclaimer:  Sample provided by Illuminum.  My opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. Image from www.illuminumperfumelounge.com

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Illuminum Trumpet Flower Fragrance Review

* Trumpet flower starts off with a sweet, but not candied, flower and a touch of the natural indolic.  Its a mix of jasmine, tuberose, and orange blossom.

* Since the scent is based on the South American trumpet flower and there are three different varieties, I am guessing that it’s based on the Velvet Trumpet flower native to Chile.

* Trumpet is definitely the right name because it goes on loud and broadcasts/projects strongly.

* The flowers are joined by a honeyed vanilla and sweaty spice, which dries it a bit.

* After 8 hours of development, the base notes start to come through – sweet resins with a light musk.

Summary:  While I don’t like saying a fragrance is masculine or feminine, Trumpet Flower would be difficult for a man to pull off as it really is a flower bomb.  The base notes last more than 12 hours or to your next shower.  The second time I wore it, the base was still there even after I showered.   This is a high quality fragrance that floral lovers will definitely want to experience.

Illuminum Haute Perfumes are available from http://www.illuminumperfumelounge.com/ .  They will be available at Henri Bendel in June 2012.

Disclaimer:  Sample provided by Illuminum.  My opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. Image from www.illuminumperfumelounge.com

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Illuminum Indian Oud Fragrance Review

* Starts off like a soft floral, with a bit of citrus.  I get jasmine and germanium.

* The floral calms down but stays present throughout – a subtle light oud starts to come through.

* The oud gets a bit sweaty and salty, but never dirty or aggressive.

* The sweat fades away, and a light vanilla with sandalwood and musk is the base.

Summary:  Indian Oud isn’t necessarily feminine but is an oud that a woman could wear without it being overbearing.   It definitely smells great on a guy, I got a few compliments when I was wearing it.  Unlike many of the ouds on the market, this is not an “oud in your face” or an arabic-styled fragrance.   The base notes last a really long time – more than 12 hours and easily into the next day or next shower.  Though there is strong projection on first spray, it lightens and becomes office-friendly after the first hour.   If you are looking for an oud to wear that doesn’t “wear you” – Indian Oud is worth checking out.

Illuminum Haute Perfumes are available from http://www.illuminumperfumelounge.com/ .  They will be available at Henri Bendel in June 2012.

Disclaimer:  Sample provided by Illuminum.  My opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. Image from www.illuminumperfumelounge.com