The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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New Release: Sarah Baker Loudo

WHAT I SMELL:   Loudo opens with a fizzy bergamot that is quickly met by warmed white chocolate followed by something that smells like woolen mittens that have a bit of a salty worn patina.  The woolen mittens then turn to the sock drawer as the perfume now takes on a combination of wood and cotton with the tinge of the lightly creamy chocolate still lingering overhead.  But soon after, a light sueded leather comes forward.  At this point, the leather dominates and moves all of the other accords to the side.  The perfume is warm and comforting and approachable in that it carries with it familiar scents of many of the comforts of home.  Slowly, the perfume begins to radiate and pushes off the skin as the leather begins to dry.  And I’m not sure if my nose is deceiving me, but there’s a very light buzzing peppermint that seems to pop in and out.   After a long time, the leather begins to retreat, leaving a soft and pretty orange blossom to take it’s place sitting atop a woody semi-sweet flattened vanilla.  At this point, the perfume softly hugs the skin in the quietest of ways.  Loudo is a wonderfully interesting and a delightful journey of a perfume.

From the Sarah Baker Perfumes website:

Playful and sweet with the flavors of childhood appetites, it dries down to something seriously grown-up. Proustian aromas and a nostalgic glimpse of a beloved game encountered in the attic, realizing years later it was the seed of your adult prowess; the sensual, sexy and clever you.

Notes: bergamot, neroli, petitgrain, black cherry, cypriol, orange blossom, white chocolate, Laos oud, Suyufi agarwood, musk, amber, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A cozy farmhouse kitchen laden with all the comfort smells infused in the home.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE LOUDO:  comforting, nostalgic, unique

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LOUDO The Sniffer, CaFleureBon, Stephan Matthews

BOTTOM LINE:  When I first heard that Loudo was an oud perfume, I couldn’t conjure in my mind how Sarah Baker would interpret it as it seems we all have been overly ouded over the past many years.  Thankfully, Sarah’s use of oud makes it the center of the perfume, but not one that is overt nor dominating.  The oud here translates more to the leather.  And the white chocolate, black cherry carry the perfume to the slightly gourmand.  In all, there’s something incredibly comforting about Loudo in that wraps the wearer up in a quieter and more simple time.  And as far as I’m concerned, a oud/leather scent that is a comfort is something that’s very welcomed.

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Woody
  • Nose: Chris Maurice
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $155 for 50 ml parfum extrait


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Sarah Baker Perfumes – Bascule

SB BasculeWHAT I SMELL:   Bascule opens with a buzzing bergamot that is quickly met with a weighted ripened peach and a soft, but soured leather.  The perfume is not sweet, nor juicy, but is more dried and grassy as it begins to project.  It’s as if it resides in a wind swept field that holds sun dried orchard fruit.  You immediately take notice that Bascule is a perfume that is not rooted in the city.  And as such, even if you’re an urban dweller that never travels outside the city limits, you’ll be immediately transported to the countryside.  As the perfume continues to develop, a green note comes forward, but the perfume remains in the dry realm, but the green makes the perfume feel a bit lighter and more approachable and carefree.  Here the perfume remains, nicely green with a dried soft leather on top of a hay accord with tufts of tobacco.  It’s just the right amount of earthy countryside for even the most confirmed city slicker.

From the Sarah Baker Perfumes website:

Horses, hay and leather. The sun-ripened notes of succulent fruit, woods and prominent green notes amidst a notable bass of earthy tones and noblesse oblige. Equestrian.

Notes: grass, peach, bergamot, lily of the valley, hay, leather accord, vetiver, amber, musk, fir, tobacco, metal tack.

windswept grassy hillWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A windswept grassy hill.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE BASCULE:  green, earthy, unique

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BASCULENotetaking, Colognoisseur

BOTTOM LINE:  Bascule is wonderfully unique and I was surprised at just how green it becomes in the drydown.  The green dried grass with just the hint of leather transports the wearer to the country in the most wonderful of ways.  Nice job Sarah Baker!

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Leather
  • Nose: Ashley Eden Kessler
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $95 for 50 ml eau de parfum


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Sarah Baker Perfumes – Lace

WHAT I SMELL:   Lace opens head on with a sweet and candied ozone and a swirl of notes that feel as if they are wrapped up in cotton candy fluff.  In seconds, the perfume is a mix of coconut orange cream and light buttered cookie.  But as soon as I say that, the perfume turns to an uplifting cedar.  I know this all sounds strange with the written word, but trust me this swirling mix really works in the loveliest and liveliest way.  As the perfume continues to develop, the creaminess turns from the coconut to the vanilla.   Here, Lace is oh so smooth and slightly custard like.  But soon enough, the perfume decides to move towards the sweet and what was once more creamy is now sprinkled with sugar.  Still delicious, I have to admit I love that creamy custard phase.  After quite some time, the gourmand cookie moves to the floral with a beautiful jasmine coming to the forefront.  Lace is a fun and delightful ride that settles into a frisky floral vixen.

From the Sarah Baker Perfumes website:

Not the lace of the boudoir. Here regal elegance is ideally suited to occasions that call for discretion and restraint. Butter wouldn’t melt on the buttoned-up top layer. But underneath a devil-may-care spontaneity and luxuriant desire for pleasure is revealed.

Notes: Musk, Coconut, Hedione, Ambroxan, Vanilla, Calone, Jasmine, Cedar 

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Jasmine infused vanilla cream cookies.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE LACE:  delightful, scrumptious, temptress

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LACEMegan in Sainte Maxime

BOTTOM LINE:  Lace was a great introduction to Sarah Baker Perfumes.  It’s fun and easy to wear and one of those perfumes that defies being in a bad mood when wearing it.  Who doesn’t love a fun perfume?

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Floral
  • Nose:  Sarah McCartney
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $140 for 50 ml eau de parfum