WHAT I SMELL: Gold opens with a rush of soft herbed and spiced bergamot that instantly fuses with the warmth of your skin. The smooth warm opening makes for the most welcoming invitation of what’s to come as from the first spritz, Gold feels as if the perfume is made just for the wearer, and the wearer alone. As the perfume settles in, Gold begins to flatten and the bergamot and herbs make way for the lightest of labdanum and jasmine bringing the flattened transition to the more rounded. Here the perfume is pulsing and hypnotic. After quite some time, Gold begins to dry and the desert begins to emerge from the perfume. At this point, Gold feels as if the scent is wafting over the ancient dunes and mysterious spices have joined the winds from far away lands. Gold is a gift from the most ancient of kings.
BOTTOM LINE: As with all of their creations, Puredistance uses the the finest materials and Gold is no exception with its’ 36% perfume oil. And again, Jan Ewoud Vos and Antoine Lie never disappoint with their majestic collaborations as Gold is an exotic beauty that seems to meld with your DNA for the most intimate of wear.
WHAT I SMELL: Aenotus greets the skin with a soft as silk citrus which glides along with a light touch of yuzu in a haze off of the skin. Incredibly inviting, Aenotus’ opening is all about comfort and reassurance with just the right amount of sunshine. After a while, and very quietly, the citrus notes seem to drift off as if the wind lightly carries them away. A warm and lightly sugared accord gracefully takes center stage, once again adding a layer of perfumed comfort. Aenotus doesn’t shout about it’s beauty, instead it confidently retreats from anything that can be construed as overt. A hazy oakmoss begins to then radiate, tinged with pettigrain, adding more comfort along with a subtle elegance. Here the perfume begins to illuminate lightly off of the skin which after a great deal of time finally surrenders to a most gracious musk. Aenotus quietly and effortlessly transforms in the most beautiful way.
AENOTUS is a perfume that, despite its high percentage of perfume oil, is not loud – and after an intense and fresh opening – transforms into a delicate scent, very close to the skin. Only those dear and near will be close enough to enjoy its subtle and intriguing character.
In Greek mythology, Aeolus is the God of the winds who brings coolness to the South of Europe. In AENOTUS the cool notes of Aeolus are fusing with the soft, sensual warmth of the South. And the classic (Latin) ending of the word Aenotus suggests the depth and maturation of time.
BOTTOM LINE: Aenotus isn’t a perfume that is meant to be smelled by lifting your arm to your nose. Instead, it’s an enticing haze that surrounds the wearer creating the most sublime cocoon of perfumed peacefulness. Aenotus is a subtle beauty.
If you’re like me, you’re always running behind on getting the perfect gifts for your loved ones. This year is no exception. But thanks to online shopping, ordering your gifts late doesn’t mean that you have to worry about your presents arriving after Christmas. So now that I have my list together, let’s help the overworked Santa and get some shopping done!
Dear Santa, if you’re listening, there’s only one thing that I want for Christmas and that’s a new bottle of Mitsouko Extract. Since 1919, this enigmatic perfume has been weaving her spell on all who wear her. As much as I love the eau de toilette version, the extract is everything that is perfume is meant to be. Be aware that this version is hard to find online, so you need to call your closest Guerlain boutique to place an order. But for those in the UK, you can purchase this spellbinding perfume via Escentual for 2o4 pounds. Santa, I promise that I’ve been a good boy this year!
Perfumistas love to display their most treasured perfumes. So for those who are not quite sure what perfume to buy for a loved one, you can’t go wrong with purchasing a luxurious tray for holding one’s perfumed gems. Jonathan Adler has some new gorgeous lucite trays, which are pretty, but better yet, whose design won’t distract from your most loved possessions. The luxurious Jacques Tray comes in both a small and large size and is available in either brass or smoke accents. Prices start at $395.
I love Mottahedeh Blue Canton china. Add a Fu Dog and a candle, and I’m completely sold. This beautiful candle is scented with the fragrance, Air de Bergamia, a citrus-fresh fragrance that blends lemon and orange with bergamot, tea, raspberry and peach. This elegant candle would look good in any room in your house. You can find this treasure at Gump’s online or in store in San Francisco. And if you’re not familiar with Gump’s, you’ll find that this is one of a kind department store with unique items that you won’t find anywhere else. Priced at $375.
I make no bones about the fact that Puredistance is my favorite perfume house. There is no perfume in the collection that I do not like, but I will admit that White is my favorite perfume in their line and one of my top 3 favorites perfumes overall. If you’ve never experienced Puredistance perfumes, they are crafted luxury of the utmost quality. And since their’ perfumes are extracts, a little spritz goes a long way, plus they last throughout the day. The best way to discover what your favorite is to sample the range, which includes a 1.5 ml sample of White as well as 6 other beauties. And all this for 59 Euros. I know that once you have experienced these incredible perfumes at least one will end up in your collection. Please check out their website for other amazing special holiday gifts.
If you’re a perfumista, no doubt you have purchased a Travalo atomizer at some point. These handy travel accessories make taking your perfume on the road easy as pie. Plus they’re really nice looking and pretty reasonable in terms of cost. But if you’re looking for the ultimate in atomizer luxury, they also offer silver and gold options covered in Swaravoski crystals. What better way to treat your favorite perfume by casing it in the ultimate bling. OK, so it’s a little pricey at $399, but isn’t your perfume worth it? If that’s all too much, then remember that they have other atomizers starting at $9.50.
We love to smell nice. Why can’t our car smell nice too? If you’re like me, the thought of hanging a deodorized evergreen tree on your rear view mirror is one that I can’t fathom. But there are options to the old school way of perking up your car’s inner presence. The diffuser from Duke may just be what you’re looking for. This fun little gadget allows you to plug in to your cigarette lighter holder or the USB connector. The product comes with essential oil, but if you’re like me, I would put a few drops of my favorite scented oil to make sure that my car smelled just the way I want it to. And it’s at a great price of $32 at Abode New York.
I love this funny perfume skunk t-shirt. This fun gift is a win for those who love perfume and for those who hate it (how is that possible?). And it’s a deal for under $20.
I will have to admit that I struggle with Yankee Candle Company. I can’t bear to go into their stores because the smell is overwhelming with too many different odors colliding in a fury at once. Given that however, I do love this idea of being able to create your own customized picture candle. It’s easy, just choose the size of your candle, pick the scent and then upload your photo to create your label. In the end, it’s a unique, one of a kind gift that no one else will have. Actually, I would love to see a candle with my two kitties on the front. I wonder if they have tuna fish as one of their scents?? Prices vary based on the size of the candle chosen.
PARAFILM
Parafilm is the perfect stocking stuffer for any perfume lover. So you ask, why would laboratory film be the perfect gift? Parafilm, a sealing film, is the best way to ensure that your sample swaps and perfume bottle moves are protected from leaking. I recently packed up my perfume collection for a move and I only found one out of about 100 bottles that suffered any leakage; and that was due to my sloppy application of the tape. Now Parafilm can be expensive, but I found that you can find small amounts online via eBay for a low cost. A little goes a long way so you don’t need much. Trust me, you want to use this stuff!
Of course my holiday shopping list would not be complete without a gift from the irreverent Archie McPhee. This year my pic for an inexpensive love is the Renaissance Kitty Pillow Cover. This fun gift would be perfect for the cat lover in your life…or for those that frequent the Renaissance Fair each year. At $11.95, it’s a great bargain. But if the kitty pillow is not your thing, Archie McPhee offers a plethora of other fun, wild and strange offerings…most at an incredible price. Archie McPhee is the place to go for the perfect stocking stuffer.
Of course, not all your holiday shopping needs will be met with this list. But I hope a few of these items may find themselves under the Christmas tree, either for you or your loved one.
WHAT I SMELL: Gold opens with a rush of soft herbed and spiced bergamot that instantly fuses with the warmth of your skin. The smooth warm opening makes for the most welcoming invitation of what’s to come as from the first spritz, Gold feels as if the perfume is made just for the wearer, and the wearer alone. As the perfume settles in, Gold begins to flatten and the bergamot and herbs make way for the lightest of labdanum and jasmine bringing the flattened transition to the more rounded. Here the perfume is pulsing and hypnotic. After quite some time, Gold begins to dry and the desert begins to emerge from the perfume. At this point, Gold feels as if the scent is wafting over the ancient dunes and mysterious spices have joined the winds from far away lands. Gold is a gift from the most ancient of kings.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The Saharan sands travelling west over the Atlantic bringing the beautiful sunsets to the Americas.
WHAT I SMELL: Aenotus greets the skin with a soft as silk citrus which glides along with a light touch of yuzu in a haze off of the skin. Incredibly inviting, Aenotus’ opening is all about comfort and reassurance with just the right amount of sunshine. After a while, and very quietly, the citrus notes seem to drift off as if the wind lightly carries them away. A warm and lightly sugared accord gracefully takes center stage, once again adding a layer of perfumed comfort. Aenotus doesn’t shout about it’s beauty, instead it confidently retreats from anything that can be construed as overt. A hazy oakmoss begins to then radiate, tinged with pettigrain, adding more comfort along with a subtle elegance. Here the perfume begins to illuminate lightly off of the skin which after a great deal of time finally surrenders to a most gracious musk. Aenotus quietly and effortlessly transforms in the most beautiful way.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Perfumed aura.
The Scented Hound 