The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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Altaia Amank’ay

WHAT I SMELL:  Sparkling like sunlight on gemstones, a touch of pink pepper ignites Amank’ay.  And right from first spritz, the perfume embraces you in a warm enveloping hug that’s both comforting and invigorating.  Soon, a delicate lotus flower unfolds, its ethereal beauty grounded by a whisper of cool, aquatic depths.  As the perfume continues to develop, a soft ambrette melds with the warmest of sandalwood, along with what seems to be a bit of gourmand sugared glaze that is as subtle as a whisper.  In the end, Amank’ay surrounds the wearer with a beautiful bloom.  Amank’ay is gorgeous.

From the Atlaia website:

In Patagonia, where the wild rugged landscape lets emotions roam free, legend tells of the Amank’ay flower which symbolizes the tender surrender of one’s heart.

Nestled between ancient forests and fast-flowing rivers, the spectacle of an Amank’ay meadow in full bloom touches the soul of all who behold it, and it is this awe-inspiring beauty that Marina and Sebastián sought to encapsulate in a luminous tribute to the sweet bond of love.

Amank’ay, the flower of love.

Notes: Pink Pepper, Nashi, Helvetolide, Lotus Flower, Ambrette Seeds, Sandalwood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A dream-like lotus flower dance.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE AMANK’AY:  calming, contented, soothing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT AMANK’AY:  No written reviews found.

BOTTOM LINE:  Amank’ay is like meditation in a bottle.  It’s so beautiful in form and feeling and easily will make you feel calmer as soon as it graces your skin.  This could easily be a much needed addition to your collection…especially when you need some time for quiet reflection.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Nose: Coralie Spicher
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense:  $230 for 100 ml eau de parfum at Beautyhabit.

Sample provided by Beautyhabit.


2 Comments

Clive Christian – Iconic Feminine

WHAT I SMELL:   Iconic Feminine has a sparkling opening that’s full of bright aldehydes that meld into a light and airy saffron.  The perfume is clean with a beautiful laundry like infused musk that seems to be full of a sunny breeze.  Although light and airy, there is an undercurrent of an impending warmth that is brought to life with a mix of florals with a quiet rose and a delicate violet.  This is a pretty perfume that seems to start off as a debutante, but soon moves to the more sophisticated.  The rose begins to mature with a coating of honey which gives the perfume some added volume and depth.  But the honey is contained and it doesn’t end up moving the perfume to the heavy side.   But it does also provide for a bit of a plasticized feel and smell which turns Iconic Feminine to the lightly spiced.  But in the end, the rose seems to possess the honey and the perfume fulfills its promise of being truly feminine, although I would argue that it’s iconic.

From the Clive Christian website:

Discover the power of Iconic Feminine. An explosion of Damask Rose, the queen of flowers, meets with rich saffron and a honeyed kiss of plum and violet. Crystal clear florals and ambers sparkle to create the feminine perfume of an iconic pair.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A 1970s pastel dress vibe.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ICONIC FEMININE:  feminine (surprise!), nostalgic, effortless

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ICONIC FEMININE:  That September Muse, Ventvenir

BOTTOM LINE:  While I was writing this review the perfume disappeared from the Clive Christian website.  I’m not sure if that means it’s being discontinued or if it’s temporarily out of stock.  But doing a search on the web it seems that it is available at various retailers.  At $440 for 50ml, I’m sure those bottles out there will not be running off of the shelves.  Don’t get me wrong though, it is a lovely perfume.

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense:  Starting at $440 for 5oml eau de parfum


5 Comments

Angelos Creations Olfactives – Karikia

WHAT I SMELL:   Karikia confidently opens with a lightly sweetened tobacco and a sueded leather that smells like it would be soft to the touch.  And right from the start it’s dynamic and charming.  Soon, a bit of barnyard enters and the smell of dried hay and grass brings the perfume to the outdoors.  The perfume is buzzing with life with a twist of honeyed tobacco.  Although the perfume is incredibly earthy, there’s also a clean, buttoned up feeling like that of a linen shirt that has been drying in the sun.  The perfume then really begins to dry with a layer of dust, rather than powder.  You can feel the winds whipping up the dried earth as it bounces off the plains.  The perfume then turns more to the flame as an incense begins to ignite the dried grass and a vanilla hazelnut syrup turns it slightly gourmand.  Karikia takes you on a fantastic journey of delightful twists and turns that never jolt the senses, but instead guides you slowly through its magic.

From the Angelos Creations Olfactives website:

Tobacco farming has been, especially during last century, one of the major sources of income and livelihood for many farmers and families in Northern Greece.

I’ve been told multiple stories with regard to the very sophisticated, extremely demanding and complex procedure from cultivation to crop of tobacco from my ancestors.  Drawing inspiration from those stories and visiting some of the remaining crops fields myself I decided to create an incredibly complex tobacco based composition.

Karíkia (Καρίκια in Greek) were land ramps that were precisely created after loosening and turning the soil at least twice with wooden and iron ploughs.  That’s where the seedlings were carefully planted when they reached 10 to 15cm height after the initial planting of the seeds in sunlight and rain protected nurseries.  In this creation you will experience multiple facets created by dry and earthy, sweet and resinous and also bright, foresty and aldehydic notes.

Top Notes: Aldehydes, Blood Orange, Acacia, English Oakwood, Saffron.

Middle Notes: Tobacco Leaves, Blue Tansy, Boronia Absolute, Omani Frankincense, Madagascan Black Pepper, Nutmeg, Hinoki Wood, White Cypress, Bois de Siam, Mahogany, Virginia Cedarwood.

Base Notes: Bulgarian Tobacco Absolute, Hazelnut Sirup Pancake, Madagascan Vanilla Absolute, Tonka Beans Absolute, French Hay Absolute, Beeswax Absolute, Castoreum (Recreation), Australian Sandalwood Spicatum, Ambergris.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A royal stable.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE KARIKIA:  earthy, grounded, enchanting

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT KARIKIA:  CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  Karikia is an incredible perfume that defies descriptors.  It’s a mix of comfort and intrigue that makes for a fantastic wear which leaves those in the wake of the fragrance in attentive awe.  Beyond fabulous.

  • Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Nose:  Angelos Balamis
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense:  Starting at $210 for 30ml parfum extrait