* Karma starts with a brash and intense blend of orange, bergamot, and pine.
* One or two sprays is enough- any more and Karma transforms from strong fragrance to industrial cleaner smell.
Categories
Tag: edp
* 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
* Fils de Dieu goes on like a cocktail (possible a mojito) with citrus, coconut, ginger, and green notes blending together.
* The name means “Son of God, the rice and citrus.”
* As it develops, it smells even more like a mojito with lime and vanilla joining in as the coconut note increases in intensity.
* This wears differently on me sometimes. It’s gone in a floral direction a few times with rose and jasmine coming up. Other times the mojito gets dosed with a foody notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and rice.
* The mojito drifts away as vanilla and amber form the base with a soft leather and musk chiming in.
Summary: When I was in Paris last year at Eldo boutique in the Marais, I got to sniff this and it was referred to as Filipino Houseboy. I am guessing they renamed it because they were afraid that it might be considered offensive. Seeing as this is the same brand that released Secretions Magnifiques, arguably the most offensive fragrance ever made, I am unclear as to why they changed the name. I love this scent and plan to buy a bottle as it is light enough for summer wear as an Eau du cologne but has enough weight to stick around. Fils de Dieu could be considered office-friendly in light doses. If you spray on too much, it does start to project loudly. Longevity is strong, more than 8 hours.
Fils de Dieu is available at Lucky Scent , Min New York , Henri Bendel and other select boutiques.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by Luckyscent. My opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. Image from www.luckyscent.com