Tag: edp

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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

Guerlain Moscow Fragrance Review

guerlain-moscow

* Imagine a drunk forester in an orchard.  Or at least an absinthe drinker with pine resin on his coat, drinking cranberry spiked lemonade.

* Those two guys in the cranapple commercials come to mind.

* A soft polished jasmine comes into focus as the cranberry fades to the back.   The licorice/absinthe note provides some depth to the jasmine.

* After the heart notes comes into focus, it becomes a skin scent.

* The base is soft pipe tobacco with a hint of vanilla.

Summary:   When I visited the Guerlain boutique on the Champs Elysees back in 2011, I knew I was going to buy Chamade Pour Homme, and the SA showed me around to another new scents.  I liked this one on first sniff so it was kind of a blind buy.  I like it, but I don’t love it so it’s not one that I would have bought if I had tested it more in depth.  It’s marketed as feminine but it’s easily unisex.  It’s sheer and pretty but it doesn’t really stand out, especially in the Guerlain house. It is a safe fragrance – nothing out of the ordinary – mainly because it is a little muted and soft to the skin.  It’s worth a test but I think you can find a better Guerlain.

Other opinions:

Eau MG
Perfume-Smellin’ Things
Perfume Possee
Olfactoria’s Travels
Perfume Shrine

Guerlain fragrances are available through Guerlain Boutiques and Neiman Marcus.

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

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Houbigant Fougere Royal Fragrance Review

houbigant-fougere-royale
* The bottle looks all elegant and refined, but on first spray, it’s an intense bang of lavender and bergamot. 

* It starts off smelling like a regular men’s cologne, nothing special, but just wait because it gets better or worse depending on your mood.

* On good days, I get a spicy floral mix which dries down to an earthy amber.

* On bad days, it’s an evil caustic vetiver that borders on chemical waste.  It then fades into a dirty, musky patchouli with a bit of skunk (in a  bad way).

Summary:  So, I’ve worn this nearly 20 times while testing it in the hope of trying to discern what triggers the different scent journeys.  I simply can’t predict which way it will go when I wear it.  When it’s good, it’s really amazing.  When it’s bad, it puts me in such a bad mood that I feel like torturing unicorns.  This is an update of a classic fougere that pretty much defined the category.  I’ve never smelled the original, so I can’t compare.  All I know is that you should test this several times before you consider buying it. Longevity is good at more than 10 hours either way it goes (either a blessing or a curse). Although a little strong at first, it is office-friendly.

Other opinions:

Now Smell This
The Non-Blonde
That Smell
Persolaise
What Men Should Smell Like

Houbigant fragrances are available through Lucky Scent and Neiman Marcus.

Disclaimer: Bottle given to me as a gift from a friend – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Lucky Scent.

Categories
Fragrance Reviews

Majda Bekkali Fusion Sacree – Lui Fragrance Review

majda-bekkali-fusion-sacree

* The beginning punch is manly sweet.  Citrus and lavender, like a traditional man’s cologne sweetened with a strong, boozy rum note.

* The rum grows stronger as the citrus quickly fades.

* While not projecting strongly, this scent does have presence and makes itself known.

* The rum note is joined by a sweet candied tuberose, similar to Vamp A NY.

* The base is a snuggly mix of caramel, vanilla, and woods.

Summary.  This is a gorgeous scent which is sold as a masculine but could easily be worn by women. Something about this scent makes me smile every time I spray it on – it’s sweet but not overly sweet. There is a depth to it that encompasses you.  Longevity is excellent at 12 hours, and it’s office safe, as long as you spray it on at least 30 minutes before you go to work.  This is a scent that was a love at first sniff, so I pretty much bought it after a quick smell at Sens Unique in Paris.  The girls there know me and directed me to it.  The girls really know me – at least based on how perfectly this scent works for me.

Other opinions:

Perfume Niche
Ca Fleure Bon

Majda Bekkali fragrances are available through Lucky Scent and Min New York.

Disclaimer: Bottle purchased by me – no disclaimer needed. Image courtesy of Lucky Scent.