Cuir Velours
WHAT I SMELL: The initial opening of Cuir Velours is cool and slightly astringent, but this lasts for a microsecond before it moves into a boozy rum and almost chocolately suede. It’s ever so sweet and gourmand and to me it feels like a layer of brown sugar on top of a really fine layer of suede. I love this phase, it’s completely yummy. After a bit, a light incense comes forth which pares down the light sugar. At this point Cuir Velours becomes ethereal and translucent like a light sheen of leather floating in the air. In the final drydown, Cuirs Velours gets a bit sweeter in an almost fruited way, like sniffing a full-bodied fruity red wine. Unfortunately, Cuir Velours disappears all too quickly on my skin and that’s a shame.
From the Naomi Goodsir website:
A deep & textured perfume, that evocatively encases the skin like soft velvet suede. A tobacco atmosphere supported by notes of rum, cistus labdanum, incense & fleur d’immortelle.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The prettiest pony.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE CUIR VELOURS: soft, sugared, comfy
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CUIR VELOURS: Persolaise, Smellythoughts, Perfumeniche.com
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Leather
- Nose: Julian Rasquinet
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $150 for 50ml EdP
Bois d’Ascese
WHAT I SMELL: Bois d’Ascese opens smelling like wet burnt campfire wood. There is just a hint of cinnamon and whiskey to give it a bit more rounded sensation. Bois d’Ascese doesn’t transform much. The smoky incense dominates and pushes everything else to the back. To me, this needs a little more whiskey and cinnamon and less smoke. Most surprising to me though, in the end I found this very much to be a comfort scent.
From the Naomi Goodsir website:
A captivating & reassuring smoke. Notes of tobacco & whisky, are supported by cinnamon, amber & cistus labdanum. Oakmoss, smoked cade wood, almost burnt, prolong the incense of Somalia with power & elegance
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A KOA campground circa 1968.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE BOIS D’ASCESE: smoky, linear, woodsy
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BOIS D’ASCESE: Now Smell This, Sorcery of Scent, The Scentualist
- Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Incense Woodsy
- Nose: Julian Rasquinet
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $150 for 50ml EdP
BOTTOM LINE: I had not heard of Naomi Goodsir prior to Freddie from Smellythoughts providing me with these samples. Both of these fragrances are very unique in their own way and their quality in composition makes me curious about the 3rd offering this house is launching, Nuit de Bakelite, which the Naomi Goodsir website says is coming soon. BTW, the website and the packaging are par excellence.
The Scented Hound 
June 16, 2013 at 10:09 am
Glad you enjoyed these Houndy 🙂 I really liked them but both not for me you know… still, definitely looking forward to the third offering – a tuberose!!! MMM your favourite 😉
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June 16, 2013 at 5:36 pm
I know, tuberose is not my favorite, but I never say never. Remember, I’m not a fan of leathers either and I still liked Cur Velours 🙂 Thanks for passing these on to me. Still working on the others you sent me 🙂
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June 16, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Fab Houndy can’t wait to read more! ❤
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June 16, 2013 at 10:10 am
Great reviews! When I tried both months ago I quite liked Cuir Velours, Bois d’Ascese smelled worse to me which is opposite to your bones rating. I think Cuir Velours is well made, good for those want to have a leather perfume but they don’t fancy the note much.
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June 16, 2013 at 5:37 pm
I agree with your thoughts on Cuir Velours. Bois d’Ascese was a big surprise to me. It’s incredibly linear, but get’s softer as time goes on which I actually liked. Not nearly enough though for ever thinking about a full bottle though.
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June 17, 2013 at 3:28 am
I wasn’t thinking about a bottle of either as well. Gave them a sniff and thats all.
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June 16, 2013 at 11:52 am
I was very curious. Unfortunately we do not have that brand here in Brazil. His words are an invitation to meet the scent.
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June 16, 2013 at 3:09 pm
I liked both of these very much when I sniffed them. I think that for me though I like something with a lot more drama. I do love how you described Cuirs Velours as the prettiest pony though 🙂
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June 16, 2013 at 5:39 pm
When it comes to “what it smells like to me” I pretty much always go with what first pops in my mind. In this case a pretty pony, no doubt because of the light and sweet leather 🙂
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June 16, 2013 at 8:56 pm
I have samples of these and your review had spurred me to move Bois d’Ascese towards the top of the list to try since it received 4 bones! Cuir Velours will have to wait as skin space is really limited (if at all, only on weekends or days off AND limited to 1 scent/day most of the time since perfumes stick to me like glue). Great reviews!
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June 17, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Such tempting reviews! I’ve been curious about both and thought that Bois d’Ascese would probably be much more my cup of tea. Seems I was right, though I do love the “pretty pony” comparison and now I’m curious about the mental association which would trigger it. LOL. I’m definitely going to try to get samples of both. Lovely reviews, my darling Mr. Hound.
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June 18, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Maybe my pretty pony comparison is just a cry for wanting me a pretty pony. I’ll go with that. I think you’re right with liking B d’A more, I think that Cuir Velours might be too sweet for your mysterious self 🙂
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June 17, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Hi, Houndy,
Lovely reviews!
When I first came across Naomi Goodsir parfums, I thought they would be all image and no substance. I am glad I was so wrong. I appreciate both Cuir Velours and Bois d’Ascése, but Cuir Velours with its horsey connotations is my favorite.
I can’t wait to try Nuit de Bakelite, which, if I’m not mistaken will be tuberose-based.
Cheers,
Caro
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June 18, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Caro – I believe you’re right about the N de B being Tuberose which usually is not my favorite, but I still want to check it out. But I love it when the perfume lives up to the wonderful marketing and packaging!
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June 23, 2013 at 3:00 pm
I am really enjoying Bois d’Ascese from the sample I have. Cuir Velours I’m still deciding. I got these in a sample haul that also included Mona di Orio Cuir. Of the couple of dozens samples that from that order Cuir and Bois d’Ascese were my favorites.
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June 25, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Sweet. It sounds like you have plenty to sample. I have to give both of these another go around before I make up my mind, but these initial tests were very promising.
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June 25, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Plenty = Too Many 🙂
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June 27, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Loved Bois D’Asece as soon as I tested it in the Lucky Scent shop in LA All I smelled was the smoke and I thought it would be a good mix some of the frags, I buy and make. Turns out I never mix it. I wear it alone and I get two distinct responses when I do. 1. What’s burning (Seriously) or 2. Incense??? Love the reactions almost as much as the frag. The packaging was unique and I kept my scent in it for 2 weeks I liked it so much. Thanks for the review
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June 29, 2013 at 5:35 am
Miss Birdsong (love that moniker btw), I think it’s wonderful no matter what kind of response you receive when you wear a fragrance. For B d’A, I could see someone wondering if something was burning for sure. The most comments I get are from my partner who typically says – “you smell like an old lady” LOL. I always take that as a compliment 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
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