Category: Fragrance Reviews

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Naomi Goodsir Cuir Velours Fragrance Review

naomi-goodsir-cuir-velours-luckyscent
* First whiff is a sweet, boozy leather.

* What is the toilet paper called – that is soft yet strong?  That’s how this starts off.

* Some sweet tobacco joins the mix.  

* It is not smoky at all – if you want a smoky scent try Naomi Goodsir’s other scent Bois D’ascese.

* The tobacco is joined by a light maple syrup note.  This is probably the immortelle coming through – as immortelle smells like that on my skin.

* The base is a sweet, but not too sweet, amber-y incense.

Summary – I discovered Cuir Velours at Corsi Cuomo in Milan.  After spraying it on my wrist, it was love at first smell.  I let it develop for a few hours and bought it the same day.  The bottle has become my everyday, no-brainer favorte.  It is easy to wear and smells great, yet is interesting enough to enjoy throughout the day.  Longevity is great- lasting more than twelve hours.  It is also office-friendly after the first thirty minutes or so (initial projection is quite strong). I really love this fragrance and have already gone through a third of the bottle in three months (and considering my perfume closet, that is saying a lot). It is also one of those scents that make me feel happy to wear – not just because of the pleasant associations to a great vacation – but because it is uplifting and energetic (wow, that sounds like a motivational speaker) but not obnoxious or too aggressive.  I strongly recommend that everyone test this scent.

Other opinions:

PER FUMUS
SmellyThoughts
I Smell Therefore I Am
Scented Hound
Ca Fleure Bon
Australian Perfume Junkies

Noami Goodsir fragrances are available at Luckyscent and Min NY.

Disclaimer: No disclaimer needed as I own a full bottle. Picture courtesy of LuckyScent.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Marc Jacobs Bang Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

marc-jacobs-bang-osmoz
* This is one of those fragrances that might make you sneeze.  The initial burst of pepper is explosive.  It is so sharp that it even borders on dill pickle.

* Initial projection is bombastic, people all around you might start sneezing.

* After about an hour, it dials back and gets a lot sweeter with resins and amber coming in.

* You may get used to it but it is still projecting without you realizing it.

* A bit of earthy patchouli joins the amber for a long-lasting base.

Summary: When this scent was first realized, it got a lot of buzz for its oversexualized ads.  It was promoted to men and forced down the throat of gay men.  For a few months, I felt like I was being attacked by a Marc Jacobs perfume sales associate the second I walked into a department store.  I don’t like being overly marketed to and don’t respond well to perfumes that make me sneeze.  I recently pulled out my sample and gave it a few full wearings and I realize that I actually do like the scent.  Once you get past the sneeze-inducing top, it becomes a nice, somewhat office-appropriate sweet scent.   I say somewhat because this scent is deceiving.  Each time I wear this, I think it has mellowed to a mild skin scent but people around me notice it and ask about it.   It is definitely worth testing and I can see why a lot of guys wear Bang.

Other opinions:

Now Smell This
Cocktails and Cologne
Bois De Jasmin
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume Shrine
Xinarox

Marc Jacobs Bang is available widely at department stores.

Disclaimer: Sample received from friend. Picture courtesy of OSMOZ.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Bond No 9 Perfumista Avenue Fragrance Review

bond-no-9-perfumista-avenue-eau-de-parfum-panella-parfum
* Kicks off strong with a burst of spicy herbal fruit with a touch of honey and hay.

* It feels like an Arabic fruit – which must be the saffron and the rose.

* After that opening, it mellows down to a floral melange – a sharp rose and some jasmine.

* A light patchouli appears with the flower and quietly becomes the focus.

* The patchouli is joined by some clean musk and a slight hint of amber in the base.

Summary:  I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Bond scents.  Either I love them immensely or absolutely detest them.  Perfumista Avenue is the rare Bond scent where I am neutral on it. It’s okay, if a bit generic. I don’t get the Perfumista Avenue theme – it’s saffron, flowers, and a pretty generic dry-down.  It does smell like a Bond Scent – sniffing it, that’s obvious, but there isn’t anything in it that makes it stand out from the rest of the collection.  Longevity is disappointing for an edp as it becomes a close skin scent after two hours, then after four hours, it’s barely noticeable.  There are much better scents in the collection, so I would advise you to try a different one in the collection.  Please note – other reviewers are getting much different results on this scent, so read the other reviews below and test for yourself if they sound interesting.

Other Opinions:

The Scentrist
Man Loves Cologne

Bond No 9 fragrances are available at Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue, independent boutiques and from Bond No 9 boutiques.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by department store. Image courtesy of Panella Parfums.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Mona di Orio Violette Fumee Fragrance Review

mona-di-orio-violette-fumee
* Large cloud of airy violet – slightly sweet, but not candied.

* When I say cloud, I mean it’s airy and voluminous – like you walked into a hazy space and you feel the violet all around you.

* Actually, fumée means smoke in French – so the smoke / cloud effect makes sense.

* After the first hour, the cloud begins to get closer and a little more dense. 

* It gets a little more masculine, with lavender and sage cutting the sweetness a bit.  Violet is still the focus – these are just there for support.

* The scent also reacts differently on my skin.   Sometimes I get a musky floral after the lavender, while at other times there is a dry rose.

* In the deep dry-down, the violet is still the star with some resins grounding it.

Summary:  Mona Di Orio is a line that I have been meaning to explore for a while.  Many fragrance friends of mine are diehard fans, and even though I have a sample kit, I haven’t dove in.  A trip to a Louisville perfumery netted me this sample of Violet Fumee, and I can see why people love the line.  This is not a feminine, candy sweet violet bomb.  Neither is it a classic masculine violet lavender.  The feeling is defiantly unisex, mixing both sides together for a composition that can develop on your skin in a few different ways.  After the first hour, this would be a great office scent because while it’s long-lasting, it’s not so strong as to overpower those around you, yet you will definitely smell it on yourself for at least 8 hours.  The price is on the high side, so definitely test it a few times before you take the plunge.  And yes, this has inspired me to dive into my sample box.

Now Smell This
Chemist in the Bottlev
Perfume Possee
Candy Perfume Boy
The Non Blonde
What a Fragrance Fanatic Things
A Scent of Elegance
Q Perfume Blog
The Scented Hound
Ca Fleure Bon

Mona Di Orio fragrances are available from Lady Ruth Perfumes, LuckyScent and MIN New York.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by Lady Ruth Perfumes. Picture courtesy of LuckyScent.

Fragrance Reviews – Page 7 – Notable Scents

Category: Fragrance Reviews

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Naomi Goodsir Cuir Velours Fragrance Review

naomi-goodsir-cuir-velours-luckyscent
* First whiff is a sweet, boozy leather.

* What is the toilet paper called – that is soft yet strong?  That’s how this starts off.

* Some sweet tobacco joins the mix.  

* It is not smoky at all – if you want a smoky scent try Naomi Goodsir’s other scent Bois D’ascese.

* The tobacco is joined by a light maple syrup note.  This is probably the immortelle coming through – as immortelle smells like that on my skin.

* The base is a sweet, but not too sweet, amber-y incense.

Summary – I discovered Cuir Velours at Corsi Cuomo in Milan.  After spraying it on my wrist, it was love at first smell.  I let it develop for a few hours and bought it the same day.  The bottle has become my everyday, no-brainer favorte.  It is easy to wear and smells great, yet is interesting enough to enjoy throughout the day.  Longevity is great- lasting more than twelve hours.  It is also office-friendly after the first thirty minutes or so (initial projection is quite strong). I really love this fragrance and have already gone through a third of the bottle in three months (and considering my perfume closet, that is saying a lot). It is also one of those scents that make me feel happy to wear – not just because of the pleasant associations to a great vacation – but because it is uplifting and energetic (wow, that sounds like a motivational speaker) but not obnoxious or too aggressive.  I strongly recommend that everyone test this scent.

Other opinions:

PER FUMUS
SmellyThoughts
I Smell Therefore I Am
Scented Hound
Ca Fleure Bon
Australian Perfume Junkies

Noami Goodsir fragrances are available at Luckyscent and Min NY.

Disclaimer: No disclaimer needed as I own a full bottle. Picture courtesy of LuckyScent.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Marc Jacobs Bang Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

marc-jacobs-bang-osmoz
* This is one of those fragrances that might make you sneeze.  The initial burst of pepper is explosive.  It is so sharp that it even borders on dill pickle.

* Initial projection is bombastic, people all around you might start sneezing.

* After about an hour, it dials back and gets a lot sweeter with resins and amber coming in.

* You may get used to it but it is still projecting without you realizing it.

* A bit of earthy patchouli joins the amber for a long-lasting base.

Summary: When this scent was first realized, it got a lot of buzz for its oversexualized ads.  It was promoted to men and forced down the throat of gay men.  For a few months, I felt like I was being attacked by a Marc Jacobs perfume sales associate the second I walked into a department store.  I don’t like being overly marketed to and don’t respond well to perfumes that make me sneeze.  I recently pulled out my sample and gave it a few full wearings and I realize that I actually do like the scent.  Once you get past the sneeze-inducing top, it becomes a nice, somewhat office-appropriate sweet scent.   I say somewhat because this scent is deceiving.  Each time I wear this, I think it has mellowed to a mild skin scent but people around me notice it and ask about it.   It is definitely worth testing and I can see why a lot of guys wear Bang.

Other opinions:

Now Smell This
Cocktails and Cologne
Bois De Jasmin
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume Shrine
Xinarox

Marc Jacobs Bang is available widely at department stores.

Disclaimer: Sample received from friend. Picture courtesy of OSMOZ.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Bond No 9 Perfumista Avenue Fragrance Review

bond-no-9-perfumista-avenue-eau-de-parfum-panella-parfum
* Kicks off strong with a burst of spicy herbal fruit with a touch of honey and hay.

* It feels like an Arabic fruit – which must be the saffron and the rose.

* After that opening, it mellows down to a floral melange – a sharp rose and some jasmine.

* A light patchouli appears with the flower and quietly becomes the focus.

* The patchouli is joined by some clean musk and a slight hint of amber in the base.

Summary:  I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Bond scents.  Either I love them immensely or absolutely detest them.  Perfumista Avenue is the rare Bond scent where I am neutral on it. It’s okay, if a bit generic. I don’t get the Perfumista Avenue theme – it’s saffron, flowers, and a pretty generic dry-down.  It does smell like a Bond Scent – sniffing it, that’s obvious, but there isn’t anything in it that makes it stand out from the rest of the collection.  Longevity is disappointing for an edp as it becomes a close skin scent after two hours, then after four hours, it’s barely noticeable.  There are much better scents in the collection, so I would advise you to try a different one in the collection.  Please note – other reviewers are getting much different results on this scent, so read the other reviews below and test for yourself if they sound interesting.

Other Opinions:

The Scentrist
Man Loves Cologne

Bond No 9 fragrances are available at Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue, independent boutiques and from Bond No 9 boutiques.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by department store. Image courtesy of Panella Parfums.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Mona di Orio Violette Fumee Fragrance Review

mona-di-orio-violette-fumee
* Large cloud of airy violet – slightly sweet, but not candied.

* When I say cloud, I mean it’s airy and voluminous – like you walked into a hazy space and you feel the violet all around you.

* Actually, fumée means smoke in French – so the smoke / cloud effect makes sense.

* After the first hour, the cloud begins to get closer and a little more dense. 

* It gets a little more masculine, with lavender and sage cutting the sweetness a bit.  Violet is still the focus – these are just there for support.

* The scent also reacts differently on my skin.   Sometimes I get a musky floral after the lavender, while at other times there is a dry rose.

* In the deep dry-down, the violet is still the star with some resins grounding it.

Summary:  Mona Di Orio is a line that I have been meaning to explore for a while.  Many fragrance friends of mine are diehard fans, and even though I have a sample kit, I haven’t dove in.  A trip to a Louisville perfumery netted me this sample of Violet Fumee, and I can see why people love the line.  This is not a feminine, candy sweet violet bomb.  Neither is it a classic masculine violet lavender.  The feeling is defiantly unisex, mixing both sides together for a composition that can develop on your skin in a few different ways.  After the first hour, this would be a great office scent because while it’s long-lasting, it’s not so strong as to overpower those around you, yet you will definitely smell it on yourself for at least 8 hours.  The price is on the high side, so definitely test it a few times before you take the plunge.  And yes, this has inspired me to dive into my sample box.

Now Smell This
Chemist in the Bottlev
Perfume Possee
Candy Perfume Boy
The Non Blonde
What a Fragrance Fanatic Things
A Scent of Elegance
Q Perfume Blog
The Scented Hound
Ca Fleure Bon

Mona Di Orio fragrances are available from Lady Ruth Perfumes, LuckyScent and MIN New York.

Disclaimer: Sample provided by Lady Ruth Perfumes. Picture courtesy of LuckyScent.