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Fragrance Reviews

Neela Vermeire Mohur Fragrance Review


* Mohur is all about the rose with its development being an exploration of rose combinations.

* The top note is a soapy rose that projects strongly for the first 20 minutes or so.

* Part of a trio of fragrances celebrating the history and traditions of India by Neela Vermeire and perfumer Bertrand Duchaufor, the name Mohur comes from a gold coin that was important in the history of India.  It is also a tribute to an empress of the Mughal dynasty Noor Jahan, who celebrated the art of perfumery.

* The soap of the rose burns off and it gets a little bit sweeter, almost gourmand with the almond milk and iris – making it more luscious.

* The sweetness quiets a bit as oud comes into play.  Before you shake your head and say, please not another oud fragrance, this is one of the rare scents where oud is a supporting player and not stage hog.  The oud makes the rose a little sweaty and almost brazen in feel.

* The oud dissipates and the base of vanilla and tonka sweetens the rose, with wood and patchouli settling it.

Summary:  Mohur is a fragrance that I didn’t get the first few times I wore it.  I wouldn’t say it’s an intellectual fragrance, but the development is quite subtle and gradual over a long period of time.  Aside from the rose, none of the other notes stand out or scream.  They act as supporting players that tell a story about the rose.  Mohur is not one that I personally love, but I could see people who like rose loving it.  If you are interested in a different take on rose and oud that is more subtle and refined, Mohur is definitely one worth experiencing.

Mohur is available at Lucky Scent and the Neela Vermiere website.

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

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Neela Vermeire Trayee Fragrance Review


* Trayee kicks off with a spicy and sweet punch, blending black currant jam with clove/cardamom.

* Part of a trio of fragrances celebrating the history and traditions of India by Neela Vermeire and perfumer Bertrand Duchaufor, Trayee draws inspirations from religious rituals and traditional Indian medicine.

* If you can imagine smoky florals, that is what comes next.   Like a hazy veil, jasmine and yiang yiang float in over the blackcurrant and make a brief appearance.

* The Vedic period is the inspiration of Trayee, beliefs that became the basis of modern Hinduism.

* The smoke turns into incense which blends the blackcurrant of the top notes with the woods, balsams, amber, and patchouli in the base notes.

Summary:  Trayee is a journey from sensual to spiritual- as if you are going from a Bollywood-themed festival to a celebratory religious service.    Projection is moderate, so you could wear this to work in the morning and it will last into the evening, making a perfect base for something to be added to.   If you really love the top notes, spray it on your shirt rather than your skin and it will surround you in a halo of scent.

Trayee is available at Lucky Scent and the Neela Vermiere website.

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Taking a break this week

I am taking a break this week from the site to work on the launch of http://www.notabledance.com.   Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Also check out the new Notable Scents facebook page –  I will be posting pictures from Elements, my Paris trip last year and a snap of my collection.  If you feel so inclined, feel free to share a snap of your collection.

I will be back next Monday with a week long focus on Neela Vermeire featuring an interview and my first giveaway.  Also upcoming is a Jovoy week, a Creed week, and more.

Please take a moment and leave a comment or drop me an email with your thoughts.  I would love to hear your feedback on the site.

Thank you so much for your support.

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