The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Monthly Archives: August 2012


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A*Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler

The wonderful Undina and I swapped some samples a while back and I am slowly making my way through each and every one. It’s been a real treat.  Today’s sampling was a very nice surprise!

WHAT I SMELL:  A*Men Pure Havane opens with a wonderful sweet tobacco ladened honey.  It’s warm and delicious and oh so edible; you just want to lick it off of your skin.  This could easily have gone over the top, but it doesn’t as the labdanum and amber mixed with the vanilla and cocoa leaves this scent grounded.  It’s so full bodied, gourmand and wonderfully unique and bold.  Once this scent takes off, it remains in this state of sweetened warmth. You just can’t help but to continually sniff your wrist while wearing this.  Thankfully A*Men Pure Havane also has wonderful sillage and longevity.  Goody!

A*Men Pure Havane notes:  fresh tobacco leaves, honeyed tobacco accord, patchouli, and bitter cocoa

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Cuba 1955.  I can picture a open aired bar with rotating celing fans to drive away the heat, a Mojito, a white suit, and a large cigar.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE A*MEN PURE HAVANE:  masculine, comfortable, confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT A*MEN PURE HAVANE:  CaFluereBon, EauMG, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE:  This flanker is a limited edition, but can still be purchased on the Thierry Mugler website for a very reasonable $88 for 100ml bottle.  I may just be doing that.  Although I keep reading that this is similar to Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille so you might just see me at Nordstrom’s checking that out this weekend.  However, I don’t think I can get Tom Ford for $88!  Thanks Undina, I am loving this!

  • Bone Rating: 4.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Oriental Vanilla
  • Classification: Masculine
  • Nose: Jacques Huclier
  • Expense: $88 for 100ml EdT


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Chypre Rouge by Serge Lutens

If a fragrance is golden, amber or red, I want to check it out.  Add oakmoss and Serge Lutens, I have no choice but to check it out!

WHAT I SMELL:  A strong coffee/tonka bean spiced opening (some say it smells curried, I can see that too). The top notes are listed as pine needle and thyme, but what I find is that it’s incredibly gourmand, like some chocolate latte spiced drink or what you smell when you walk by a Yankee Candle Company (if you don’t know this smell, it is overpowering and a little goes a long way).  I find this opening very interesting and intriguing, but I am wondering if I want to smell like that all day.   This opening last for a while, but when it begins to dissipate, the dusty oakmoss which I love so much starts to surface along with a honeyed fruitiness. But the fruit is not sweet, the oakmoss keeps it grounded and earthy.   This phase is strong at first but slowly mellows and Chypre Rouge begins to hug closely to the skin. What I was left with after many hours was a layer of light sweet berry which then strangely moves into a barely detectable incense.

Chypre Rouge Notes:  thyme, pine tree needles, honey, bees wax, jasmine and fruity resins, patchouli, moss, amber, musk and vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  What I was expecting was  a full-bodied Moulin Rouge can-can kind of scent.  Rouge/Red to me means loud and vibrant.  Instead I found this to be a calming, close to the skin, lovely chypre scent that starts off with an outrageous bang.  To illustrate, the opening is pure Pepe Le Pew, while the remainder is his beloved object of affection

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE CHYPRE ROUGE:  bipolar, unique, mysterious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CHYPRE ROUGE: SmellyThoughts, Now Smell This, I Smell Therefore I Am

BOTTOM LINE: This may have show up on my full-bottle want list for the fall.  My only concern is that it disappears on me quicker than I would like.  More testing is definitely needed…and that’s a good thing!

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Chypre Fruity
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Nose: Christopher Sheldrake
  • Expense: Approximately $125-140 for 50ml EdP


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Field Notes from Paris by Ineke

A lovely friend sent me a package of goodies this past week.  Of course, I had to check them all out upon arrival, but Field Notes from Paris is the one that struck a chord with me most…

WHAT I SMELL:  Green, refreshing blast that slowly melts away into a beautiful patchouli and tobacco leaf middle phase.  It’s sweet, but what I call an adult sweet, not a kid kind of sweet.  Finally, what is interesting to me is that this fragrance ends up like two fragrances in one.  What do I mean?  When I bring my arm up to take in the fragrance, I get a light leather scent.  The kind of leather that belongs to a well-worn book where the cover has been used thin.  But when I am just enjoying the fragrance on me as a whole, Field Notes from Paris is almost gourmand, like coffee and almond/vanilla cookies (all very subtly dressed together).

Field Notes from Paris Notes:  coriander, orange flower, bergamot, tobacco flower & leaf, patchouli, cedar, tonka bean, beeswax, leather, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Perfect for today’s rainy weather, Field Notes from Paris does remind me of exactly what Ineke was trying to convey; “sweet-scented Paris afternoons, life measured out in coffee spoons.”  Perfect for hanging out in your favorite sweater and jeans on a Sunday morning while recuperating from your all too fun Saturday night.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE FIELD NOTES FROM PARIS:  comfortable, laid-back, friendly

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FIELD NOTES FROM PARIS: Scents Memory, Notable Scents, EauMG

BOTTOM LINE:  Lovely and subtle; good for a man or a woman.  This may just be the right fragrance for the coming winter when I’m curled up reading a book next to the fire.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Woody Oriental
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Nose:  Ineke Ruhland
  • Expense: $88 for 75ml EdP