Do y’all like the new look? I am doing some cleaning around here and thought I would lighten things up a bit.
Good news: I’ve been hired to write the copy for a new perfume line so that is my focus this week. Watch out for new reviews to return next Monday the 11th.
Congratulations to Brooke Baird and Jason Steen who won the Neela Vermeire sample sets.
If you didn’t win and would like to sample Neela’s scents, you can order a sample kit from her website or individual samples from LuckyScent.
* Douce Amere kicks off with licorice and a boozy note, like an orange liqueur. Although these are sweet notes, they aren’t candied or cloyingly sweet.
* The top notes project loudly for at least an hour on my skin. Be sure to test how they last on your skin before wearing in close quarters.
* The licorice note stays present throughout the development and acts as a haze over the cinnamon, spice, and dark cocoa that come through (as the booze wears off).
* Douce Amere means bittersweet in English which is an apt description of the scent. Most of the notes are sweet confections but are balanced in such a way that it reads mature rather than childlike.
* The base comes across differently when I wear it. The licorice cloud is always there, sometimes I get caramel and sandalwood while other times I get resin and vanilla.
Summary: Douce Amere could be called an oriental gourmand, yet with all the foody notes, I don’t consider it edible. There is a real seductive, mature vibe to it. At no point is it overly sweet, which it could easily become. This is definitely a night fragrance and not for the office. The base notes last on me until I shower it off. Originally, Douce Amere was part of the export collection for Serge Lutens and available everywhere. Though it was pulled from the export line and is only available through the Paris store, I often see bottles left at Serge Lutens counters in other stores. If you like Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin and want a more mature take on licorice, this would be a great one to try.
* The fragrance kicks off with a blend of bergamot, lavender, woods, and spices.
* Bois means woods, and this scent was inspired by the woods of Portugal.
* What you smell on top is what you get for most of the span as this scent is mostly linear, until the base comes in which is often after 8-12 hours.
* The bergamot and lavender eventually fade as the sandalwood and cedar become the main focus. A little spice is left and there is a light grass smell hazed on top.
Summary: Bois Du Portugal has an old school and distinguished, manly feel to it. Some refer to it as a 70s/80s powerhouse and I can totally see that as it is strong and projects. Wear this to an office if you are a CEO or want to feel like one. It’s one of those scents that gives off the smell of “old money.” I couldn’t imagine anyone under the age of 30 wearing this, but I can be wrong. If you happen to have a bottle of Tom Ford Private Blends Bois Rouge, this is similar, but longer-lasting and has more depth. I know this because I skin tested the two back-to-back for weeks before making a decision to buy a bottle a few years ago. With everything in my fragrance collection, I find myself reaching for BDP quite often and the more than half empty bottle is a testament to that.
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.
No disclaimer needed – I own a full bottle. Image from Creed Boutique