April | 2012 | The Scented Hound

April 30, 2012
by The Scented Hound Leave a comment

LP No:9 for Men by Penhaligon’s

I love the LP No:9 (Love Potion Number 9) name. I like the fragrance. Clean, fresh and spicy is how I would characterize LP No:9. This is the first Penhaligon’s scent that I have tested, and I’m assuming that my thoughts about LP No:9 is how I’ll feel about this line. LP No:9 is complex in its composition, but somehow that complexity doesn’t translate to having a great deal of depth. It’s nice and somewhat old school, but in the end just not that exciting to me. Bottom line: fresh floral and spice, sophisticated and easy to wear.

From the Penhaligon’s website:

HEAD NOTES
Mandarin, Bergamot and Rosewood

HEART NOTES
Jasmine, Orris, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Clove, Cinnamon, Pepper and Nutmeg

BASE NOTES
Vanilla, Patchouli, Musk and Amber

Created in 1999, LP No. 9 for Men casts a spell of powdered darkness with its complex heart of ylang-ylang and spices. The fresh top notes of mandarin, bergamot and rosewood soon give way to the unusual floral and spiced heart. The seductive base notes are led by sweet vanilla and earthy patchouli with whisps of musk and amber creating sensual layers of warmth and mystery.

Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
Scent Type: Oriental – Spicy
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $120 for 100ml EDT

April 30, 2012
by The Scented Hound 4 Comments

Musc Ravageur by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

So what’s all the fuss about? Musc Ravageur is a fragrance that evokes the either “I love it” or “I hate it” responses by those who have tried it. It’s also one of those fragrances that have been described as dirty, sexy, sensual (and many other things in which I won’t go into detail). Of course, given the discourse and the descriptors I too had to give this a try. And I can see what everybody is talking about. The first thing that comes to mind when I put this on is the phrase “plastics are the wave of the future!” There is truly an artificial plastic petroleum aspect to this scent. It’s heavy and it’s a heaviness that fills up your lungs. Musc Ravageur starts with a bitch slap to the senses. It’s moist and musky with hints of vanilla. As the slow dry down takes place, out comes more of a warmed peppered base. It mellows ever so slightly but not enough to take away it’s oomph. I would have a hard time seeing a woman pull this one off, because I think of this really as a man’s fragrance because of its heaviness. In going back and reading what I have written so far, you would think that I don’t like this. Wrong. I love it. It’s a fragrance that gives you power. There is nothing shy about Musc Ravageur, so much so that this may have to go on my wish list for a full bottle.

From the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle website:

Sensual and sophisticated. Powerful yet perfectly controlled. Dramatic and mysterious. MUSC RAVAGEUR is a grown-up perfume, an uncompromising Oriental, which trumps current fads. Its explosive departure of bergamot, tangerine and cinnamon is set against a lusty backdrop of vanilla, musk and amber. No flowers, just a refined and exalted skin scent.

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent Type: Oriental
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $165 for 50ml EDP

April 23, 2012
by The Scented Hound 17 Comments

Incense Oud by By Kilian

If you look at my past reviews of By Kilian fragrances they are rather lukewarm. I approach my reviews solely on what my own likes and preferences are which means that I rate and provide comments on what I like personally. Given that, I guess I hadn’t sampled the right By Kilian fragrances for my tastes. I had the opportunity to sample and test some of the other fragrances in the line the other day at Saks Fifth Avenue when I had the opportunity to interview Kilian Hennessy himself as he was promoting his new “Asian Tales” collection.

Well, I fell in love, and fell in love hard with Incense Oud. Sometimes love is hard to define and I find that it is one of those scents that is hard to describe. When first applied you are met with what I would describe as a lightly green spicy blend which quickly turns over to a nice and mild oaky smokiness which remains throughout. Incense Oud is warm and slightly woody. It is a scent that envelops and wraps itself around you in the most luxurious of ways. Incense Oud is a very personal scent, when you wear it, you feel like it was specifically made for you. It sits close to the skin and provides you with a layer of comfort. I have to say that this is easily the most elegant of scents. It’s perfect for the evening and yet it was perfect for me when I went to the grocery store in a sweatshirt and khakis yesterday in the rain!

I’m happy to say that Incense Oud is now part of my permanent collection and I was lucky enough to have Kilian himself sign my bottle. Besides my love for the scent, the packaging is beyond elegant, both the bottle and the lock box which it resides in. Yes, I’m in love.

From the By Kilian website:

INCENSE OUD is built on the duality of two primeval scents – incense and oud.

Incense, largely considered a mystic perfume, is layered with oud, rose, cardamom and labdanum,creating a fragrance that is both mysteriously warm and stunningly modern.

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent Type: Oriental – Spicy
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $395 for 50ml EDP