Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-tobacco-oud-nordstrom
* Tobacco oud starts off spicy – cinnamon/cloves and a bit of sharp wood

* It reminds me of the top of Bois Marocain and it projects massively.

* Then the tobacco starts to show up and overpowers everything about it.  Buoyed by a subtle oud, the tobacco really is the star for a lot of the fragrance’s life.

* While it begins to calm down at this point (around three hours), it’s still present and projecting nicely.

* The dry down to sweet amber and vanilla takes a long time and lasts even longer.

Summary:  I thought I was having flashbacks when I wore this scent because like AKafkaesque I realize that each stage of the development was another Tom Ford Scent.   Whereas AK sees it as a mix of Amber Absolute, Sahara Noir, Cafe Rose, and Tobacco Vanille – being the DJ that I am, Tobacco Oud feels like a wonderful mashup of Bois Marocain, Amber Absolute, and Tobacco Vanille with a touch of oud.  When I first heard of Tobacco Oud, I was hoping that it would be Tobacco Vanille, plus oud.  I am happier with the results as this is very oud 2.0 (oud as subtle supporting flavor, rather than an ‘oud in your face’ bomb). It feels more like a greatest hits medley (kind of like Julet Has A Gun Mad Madame, but much more well-conceived) and is far better in my opinion than anything in the last two private blend collections (Atelier D’Orient and Jardin Noir). Since I already own the three scents it reminds me of, I probably would not buy this for myself, but for anyone who is strong enough to handle a powerful long term scent (more than 12 hours of wear), this could easily be a signature.  Because of the projection, it’s not office friendly, but the strength can be downplayed by wearing only one or two sprays.  This is also definitely a scent that needs to be skin tested, as reading through the various reviews online, I kept scratching my head wondering if we were all spraying the same juice.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon
Now Smell This
Perfume Possee
Kafkaesque
Scentrist
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume of Life
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise
Manface

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

By Kilian Apple Brandy Fragrance Review

by-kilian-apple-brandy-lucky-magazine
* Loud, boozy brandy opening with a hint of honey and spice.

* Initial projection is quite strong – going out a couple of feet.

* The scent is surprisingly linear- only slightly changing over time to become a little woodier.

* After about 2 hours, it’s a light skin scent bordering on delicate.

* The base keeps a hint of the sweet top and the wood, with a delicate ambery vanilla in the mix.

Summary:  A flat-out boozy fragrance would be something expected from By Kilian, as the founder of the line comes from the Hennessey Cognac family.  I have a mixed reaction to Apple Brandy.  It starts really loud but gets quiet and subtle too quickly for my personal tastes, unlike much of the rest of his line, which stays strong for a long time. However, it is well-balanced, it is sweet but not too sweet and boozy but not too much where you might get pulled over for a breathalyzer.   For an EDP, the longevity is good – lasting more than 8 hours, but after the two hour mark it wears very close to the skin. I wouldn’t suggest it for an office scent, but it would work for a night out scent. I am kind of conflicted on this one because I love the first two hours, but at the high price point I expect it to last longer than it does on my skin.  

Other opinions:

Kafkaesque

By Killian Apple Brandy is available only from the By Killian website and New York city boutique.

Disclaimer: Decant purchased – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Lucky Magazine.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

The Body Shop Chocomania Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

the-body-shop-chocomania
* Goes on kind of loud – with rich milk chocolate buoyed by coconut.

* Yes, I was craving a Mounds bar.

* The coconut gets stronger, making the chocolate seem like supporting player for a little.

* As the coconut recedes, a sweet vanilla joins the chocolate for a good bit.

* After about a half hour – the vanilla fades and coffee comes through.

* The cafe mocha aroma carries it into the base.

Summary: Chocomania is a fun, easy to wear gourmand. It reminds me of two of my favorite chocolate/coffee scents – Bond I Love NY for All (nearly identical) and Maison des Reves Mousse Au Cafe (very similar, just a little less milky). Initial projection is kind of strong but calms down pretty quickly, so it’s a good, fun office fragrance. Chocomania is the textbook definition of cheap thrill, retailing at $15. I also love that its available in a 30ml bottle and I wish all lines offered scents in smaller bottles – because let’s face it – who ever uses a full 100 (or even 50ml) bottle? The scent is also available in matching body products and gift sets in a heart-shaped box – making it a perfect gift for Valentine’s day. When I reviewed Montale Chocolate Greedy – I compared it to Guerlain Gourmand Coquin as being a mid-range Lexus compared to a high-end Mercedes-Benz. This would make Chocomania the fun and affordable Kia that those colorful hamsters took to the party before dancing to LMFAO and elevating our cultural discourse so.

One Girl’s Opinion (Body Butter)
Adorable on Your Vanity (Collection)
Ellelle (Body Butter)

The Body Shop Chocomania is available through their stores and website.

Disclaimer: Bottle purchased – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Body Shop website.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Lush Scent Rose Jam Fragrance Review

* I don’t get the rose jam on top like with the shower gel – it’s more like toasted rose cracker..  There’s a bran or cooked starch weighing it down.

* That cracker note dissipates and the rose starts to get peppery and lemony.  The rose is still the star – it’s just that the supporting players change.

* At this point, Rose Jam goes in one of two ways – either soapy or fruity.  Each time I wear it, it’s a bit unpredictable.

* The starchiness of the top comes back again in the base – for a bready rose, with a touch of almond and honey.

Summary:  After reading Victoria’s review of Rose Jam shower gel, I picked up a bottle and now use it a few times per week.   Rose Jam Pure Perfume is a really good interpretation of the scent.   It lasts 8-10 hours on my skin before it becomes completely undetectable.  Rose Jam is more of a nighttime scent, and I wouldn’t consider it office friendly due to the projection.  If you spray it after bathing with the shower gel, you get a really decadent rose experience.  For the price point, I can’t think of another Rose scent of similar quality.

Other opinions:

EauMG (Shower Gel)
Now Smell This (Shower Gel)
Musings of a Muse (Shower Gel)
Oxford Owl (Shower Gel)
Journeys Are My Diary (Shower Gel)

Lush Scent Rose Jam is a limited edition that was available only from their website. Check there first to see if it is still available. If not, ebay is pretty much your only option.

Disclaimer: Bottle purchased – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Lush website.

Notable Scents – Page 13 – A DJ Ron Blog
Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Fragrance Review

tom-ford-private-blend-tobacco-oud-nordstrom
* Tobacco oud starts off spicy – cinnamon/cloves and a bit of sharp wood

* It reminds me of the top of Bois Marocain and it projects massively.

* Then the tobacco starts to show up and overpowers everything about it.  Buoyed by a subtle oud, the tobacco really is the star for a lot of the fragrance’s life.

* While it begins to calm down at this point (around three hours), it’s still present and projecting nicely.

* The dry down to sweet amber and vanilla takes a long time and lasts even longer.

Summary:  I thought I was having flashbacks when I wore this scent because like AKafkaesque I realize that each stage of the development was another Tom Ford Scent.   Whereas AK sees it as a mix of Amber Absolute, Sahara Noir, Cafe Rose, and Tobacco Vanille – being the DJ that I am, Tobacco Oud feels like a wonderful mashup of Bois Marocain, Amber Absolute, and Tobacco Vanille with a touch of oud.  When I first heard of Tobacco Oud, I was hoping that it would be Tobacco Vanille, plus oud.  I am happier with the results as this is very oud 2.0 (oud as subtle supporting flavor, rather than an ‘oud in your face’ bomb). It feels more like a greatest hits medley (kind of like Julet Has A Gun Mad Madame, but much more well-conceived) and is far better in my opinion than anything in the last two private blend collections (Atelier D’Orient and Jardin Noir). Since I already own the three scents it reminds me of, I probably would not buy this for myself, but for anyone who is strong enough to handle a powerful long term scent (more than 12 hours of wear), this could easily be a signature.  Because of the projection, it’s not office friendly, but the strength can be downplayed by wearing only one or two sprays.  This is also definitely a scent that needs to be skin tested, as reading through the various reviews online, I kept scratching my head wondering if we were all spraying the same juice.

Other opinions:

Ca Fleure Bon
Now Smell This
Perfume Possee
Kafkaesque
Scentrist
The Candy Perfume Boy
Perfume of Life
Man Loves Cologne
Persolaise
Manface

Tom Ford Private Blend fragrances are available at Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by sales associate for review. Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

By Kilian Apple Brandy Fragrance Review

by-kilian-apple-brandy-lucky-magazine
* Loud, boozy brandy opening with a hint of honey and spice.

* Initial projection is quite strong – going out a couple of feet.

* The scent is surprisingly linear- only slightly changing over time to become a little woodier.

* After about 2 hours, it’s a light skin scent bordering on delicate.

* The base keeps a hint of the sweet top and the wood, with a delicate ambery vanilla in the mix.

Summary:  A flat-out boozy fragrance would be something expected from By Kilian, as the founder of the line comes from the Hennessey Cognac family.  I have a mixed reaction to Apple Brandy.  It starts really loud but gets quiet and subtle too quickly for my personal tastes, unlike much of the rest of his line, which stays strong for a long time. However, it is well-balanced, it is sweet but not too sweet and boozy but not too much where you might get pulled over for a breathalyzer.   For an EDP, the longevity is good – lasting more than 8 hours, but after the two hour mark it wears very close to the skin. I wouldn’t suggest it for an office scent, but it would work for a night out scent. I am kind of conflicted on this one because I love the first two hours, but at the high price point I expect it to last longer than it does on my skin.  

Other opinions:

Kafkaesque

By Killian Apple Brandy is available only from the By Killian website and New York city boutique.

Disclaimer: Decant purchased – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Lucky Magazine.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

The Body Shop Chocomania Fragrance Review (MAINSTREAM MONDAY)

the-body-shop-chocomania
* Goes on kind of loud – with rich milk chocolate buoyed by coconut.

* Yes, I was craving a Mounds bar.

* The coconut gets stronger, making the chocolate seem like supporting player for a little.

* As the coconut recedes, a sweet vanilla joins the chocolate for a good bit.

* After about a half hour – the vanilla fades and coffee comes through.

* The cafe mocha aroma carries it into the base.

Summary: Chocomania is a fun, easy to wear gourmand. It reminds me of two of my favorite chocolate/coffee scents – Bond I Love NY for All (nearly identical) and Maison des Reves Mousse Au Cafe (very similar, just a little less milky). Initial projection is kind of strong but calms down pretty quickly, so it’s a good, fun office fragrance. Chocomania is the textbook definition of cheap thrill, retailing at $15. I also love that its available in a 30ml bottle and I wish all lines offered scents in smaller bottles – because let’s face it – who ever uses a full 100 (or even 50ml) bottle? The scent is also available in matching body products and gift sets in a heart-shaped box – making it a perfect gift for Valentine’s day. When I reviewed Montale Chocolate Greedy – I compared it to Guerlain Gourmand Coquin as being a mid-range Lexus compared to a high-end Mercedes-Benz. This would make Chocomania the fun and affordable Kia that those colorful hamsters took to the party before dancing to LMFAO and elevating our cultural discourse so.

One Girl’s Opinion (Body Butter)
Adorable on Your Vanity (Collection)
Ellelle (Body Butter)

The Body Shop Chocomania is available through their stores and website.

Disclaimer: Bottle purchased – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Body Shop website.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Lush Scent Rose Jam Fragrance Review

* I don’t get the rose jam on top like with the shower gel – it’s more like toasted rose cracker..  There’s a bran or cooked starch weighing it down.

* That cracker note dissipates and the rose starts to get peppery and lemony.  The rose is still the star – it’s just that the supporting players change.

* At this point, Rose Jam goes in one of two ways – either soapy or fruity.  Each time I wear it, it’s a bit unpredictable.

* The starchiness of the top comes back again in the base – for a bready rose, with a touch of almond and honey.

Summary:  After reading Victoria’s review of Rose Jam shower gel, I picked up a bottle and now use it a few times per week.   Rose Jam Pure Perfume is a really good interpretation of the scent.   It lasts 8-10 hours on my skin before it becomes completely undetectable.  Rose Jam is more of a nighttime scent, and I wouldn’t consider it office friendly due to the projection.  If you spray it after bathing with the shower gel, you get a really decadent rose experience.  For the price point, I can’t think of another Rose scent of similar quality.

Other opinions:

EauMG (Shower Gel)
Now Smell This (Shower Gel)
Musings of a Muse (Shower Gel)
Oxford Owl (Shower Gel)
Journeys Are My Diary (Shower Gel)

Lush Scent Rose Jam is a limited edition that was available only from their website. Check there first to see if it is still available. If not, ebay is pretty much your only option.

Disclaimer: Bottle purchased – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Lush website.