Tag: edp

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Guerlain Elixir Charnel Gourmand Coquin Fragrance Review

Guerlain Elixir Charnel Gourmand Coquin

* Imagine the most delicious and decadent milk chocolate in the world.  That’s what this smells like.

* There is some cherry and rum at the top to support the chocolate, but it really is all about the chocolate.

* Slight projection for the first thirty minutes or so, and then it becomes a skin scent.

* The cherry/rum melts away and a soft vanilla comes in to join the dominant, sweet chocolate.

* The scent slowly fades into a delicious soft chocolate which last for about eight hours.

Summary:  Gourmand Coquin is the first fragrance I bought from the Guerlain boutique in Las Vegas.   It is also my comparison that I use when I am considering purchasing an expensive fragrance.  I think to myself, do I love it as much as Gourmand Coquin?  Everytime I wear this, I sniff myself constantly.  It is delicious, edible, and amazing.  This is not the chocolate scent you would get from a celebrity fragrance or something cheap from the mall – this is high-end, ultra luxe and rich- if there was chocolate nicer than Godiva/Lindt/etc. – that would be the chocolate that you smell here.  Although you would probably wear this as an evening scent, it works as an office scent because it stays close to the skin.  It is marketed as feminine, but guys could easily wear it.  Only two drawbacks – as a Guerlain exclusive, it is insanely expensive at $260 per bottle.  Also, the word is that it will be discontinued.   Although it might anger me, I wish Guerlain would change this from an exclusive to a mainstream fragrance so more people could enjoy and experience it.  If Gourman Coquin was marketed in department stores like their other mainstream scents, it would be an international smash.

Though Voyou is available from Neiman Marcus, I would recommend that you contact Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas as their customer service is beyond impeccable, and they carry a complete line of all Guerlain fragrances.

Disclaimer:  No disclaimer needed.  I bought a full bottle.  Picture from Guerlain website.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Lush Dirty Fragrance Review

* It’s called dirty but its actually clean.  It starts with a refreshing burst of spearmint and herbs (tarragon and thyme).

* Projection is strong for the first hour or so.  People around you will be smelling herb garden.

* Sometimes I get lavender or licorice in there, sometimes I don’t.

* You can tell this is marketed to guys since it comes as a ‘body spray in a Windex-looking bottle.’  The body spray is a little more minty and sheer with less emphasis on the herbs.

* The EDP (not body spray) is pretty linear and calms down after about an hour. The spearmint and herbs quiet down a little bit and are joined by sandal wood in the base.

* “Dirty” is said to be a reference to the “Italian Shower” – jumping out of bed wearing the same clothes and just spraying cologne to cover body smell.  I guess this scent would work for that situation.

Summary:  I find myself becoming more and more of a Lush fanboy.  Their products and scents are great quality, have solid longevity, and are priced fairly. You get great value for your money in a Lush store.  I love Dirty and would recommend trying the associated products – especially the springwash and the toothy tabs.  The springwash will wake you in the morning with a tingling mint.  It reminds me of CO Bigelow Menthe.  The toothy tabs will be covered a future review, but are basically baking soda tablets that you crush up and use as toothpaste.  I can’t vouch for the hair cream (for obvious reasons) and i wasn’t a big fan of the shaving cream.

Guys, check out Dirty for a fun and refreshing summer fragrance.  If you spray this on at least an hour before you get to work, it would be office-friendly.  If you spray it on in your car before you walk into the office, your coworkers will look at you strangely.  Victoria at eaumg.net recommended using the Dirty body Spray as room spray – and at 19.95 for 6oz, I would agree it does work for a multipurpose product.  Her Frug named Frink seemed to like it even more.  If you are planning to use Dirty as solely a skin scent, go for the longer lasting EDP.

Lush Dirty is available at Lush stores and on the Lush website.

 *Disclaimer – No disclaimer needed – I bought a full bottle.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Creed Virgin Island Water Fragrance Review

* Virgin Island Water is a vacation in a jar.  The long lasting top notes of coconut, lime, and orange smell like a beachside cocktail.

* Usually citrus top notes burn off really quickly, but the lime and orange last throughout most of the fragrance.

* Unless you pay attention and sniff yourself often, VIW seems very linear as in the top notes stay around for the full life of the fragrance.

* If you sniff closely, some ginger, spices and light florals enter in mid-development for a short while.

* The deep base notes of vanilla and musk join the coconut which stays around forever.

* While most vacations are over too quickly, Virgin Island Water lasts more than 8 hours.

Summary:   Virgin Island Water is strong, but not overpowering.  It makes its presence known but is not so overwhelming as to be too much for warm weather wear.   If you are a fan of the classic Creed fragrance, this may not be to your liking.  It is more similar to the fresher/fruitier Creed fragrances like Aventus.   Although I have never smelled it, several people have mentioned that Virgin Island Water is identical to Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena (which has been discontinued).  I can’t comment on that, but I can say that Virgin Island Water is one of the few fragrances that I have used up a full 4oz bottle of and went back to buy another bottle of.  For summer weather and hot climates, Virgin Island Water is an excellent choice and worth testing.

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.

*Disclaimer – No disclaimer needed, I own a full bottle.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Chantecaille Kalimantan Fragrance Review

* The fragrance kicks off with a dry blend of incense and patchouli.

* Kalimantan is the Indonesian name for the island of Borneo which is the third largest island in the world.  The island had the oldest rain forests in the world which have been deforested at a rapid rate.

* Out of nowhere, the scent goes massively and aggressively skank with a strong mix of cedar, cumin and oud.

* When I say massively and aggressively, I mean the volume gets turned up and it projects wildly.   Its the first fragrance I’ve tested that gets louder the longer you wear it (heart notes are stronger than the top notes.)

* After about an hour, the skank starts to tone down and it gets a little sweeter.

* The base notes are a nice vanilla and sandalwood blend which lasts for 8 hours on my skin.

Summary:  Chantecaille is a luxury skincare / cosmetic line for women.  The fragrance bottle is quite pretty with etched/raised glass and a mirrorball like lid.  While this might fit the other fragrances in their collection (Frangipane, Tiare, Petales), it doesn’t make any sense for the beast known as Kalimantan.  I say this with love because I bought a full bottle of this monster just because it is so animalic, aggressive, and almost comically over the top.  This scent would fit better in the line of Serge Lutens or even Etats Libre D’orange line.  I am just imagining a rich lady sitting at the Chantecaille counter in a Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom getting her make up done.  She reaches over and absent mindedly sprays some Kalimantan on her skin.  The first whiff is pleasant but then a few minutes lady, the skunk hits and she starts screaming.  I would love to be there to see this.  Kalimantan is clearly not office friendly and I strongly recommend skin testing it.  Even if you don’t plan to ever buy a bottle, get a sample and experiment with it.  I am not comparing this to the shock value of say Secretions Magnifique, but the skank definitely comes out of nowhere and lets itself be known.

Chantecaille Kalimantan is available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Barneys New York.