The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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Konig by Yosh

KonigWHAT I SMELL:  Zesty is what I call the opening of Konig…like a flash of light of bergamot and sugared apple.  It’s very fresh and clean.  Soon enough, the bright top layer begins to retreat but the apple remains, although it loses some of its sweetness.  Underneath, there’s a layer of vetiver and musk that provides an almost fog or cloud like base for the floraled apple.  Add to that some warm amber and Konig starts to become more rounded.  After around 10 minutes or so, the fragrance becomes more woody, but still with this slightly candy appled goodness on top.  But it doesn’t take long for the wood to turn into more of a firewood as the scent seems tinged around the edges with a lingering burnt wood.  What I like about Konig is that it’s masculine, but not stuffy, nor over the top brutish, plus it has nice projection and some real lasting power.

From the Yosh website:

An homage to the king within, perfumer Yosh Han, introduces Konig, a dark charismatic elixir fit for royals of yesterday and mortals of today.  Konig takes us to a deep, black Bavarian forest during the time of medieval kings.

Notes:  aromatic bitters, sage, cypress, red apple, smoky papyrus, snow flowers, bois d’landes, vetiver, white musc, saddle leather, amber, firewood.

thorWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Maybe it’s the name and the inspiration behind it, maybe it’s because it’s quite masculine without being dark,  or maybe it’s that I’m not feeling very creative at the moment, but I can’t help but think of Thor.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE KONIG: Semi-sharp, plentiful, confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT KONIG: CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  I’ve recently been basking in the glory of feminine florals as of late.  Konig is a nice change of pace without going down a completely different and darker path. I think Konig could have some pretty wide appeal.

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Floral Woody Aromatic
  • Nose:  Yosh Han
  • Classification: Masculine
  • Expense: $130 for 50ml EdP


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New Release: Nocturnes (2013) by Caron

NocturnesThis review is based on the 2013 Nocturnes release that is part of the Caron La Selection collection of fragrances.

WHAT I SMELL:  Nocturnes opens bright and beautiful and very similar to one of my all time favorites, Givenchy Ysatis.  It’s bold with florals highlighted by gorgeous ylang-ylang and warmed rose with hints of pepper; although this is perfectly blended so that notes are hard to distinguish on their own.  Soon enough the Ysatis like boldness upon first application starts to retreat and you start noticing the tuberose a bit more.  But it’s a soft tuberose and one that’s rather comforting and pretty.  The fragrance doesn’t change much after this except that the vetiver woodiness becomes more prominent.  Nocturnes is pretty, close to the skin and an overall lovely surprise.

Nocturnes Notes:  Top notes are orange, rose and neroli; middle notes are jasmine, tuberose and ylang-ylang; base notes are sandalwood, vetiver and musk.

Lilting MelodyWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A lilting melody.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE NOCTURNES: uncomplicated, pretty, endearing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NOCTURNESPerfume Shrine.  I can only find additional reviews for the older version of the fragrance.

BOTTOM LINE:  I can’t say how this compares to the older version of the fragrance, but this is really quite pretty, but nothing groundbreaking.  Nocturnes is the perfect fragrance for when you just want to feel content and happy as there’s nothing dark about this at all.  It would be perfect for the office, or running errands in your jeans.  I have read some complaints about the new Caron bottles that are part of the La Selection collection where people thought that the bottles were too boring and masculine.  I think they’re better in person than in pictures.  They’re simply designed, heavy in weight and the cap is magnetized so that it won’t fall off of the bottle.   For me, the new bottles definitely work!

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Floral Woody Musk
  • Classification: Feminine
  • Expense: $126 for 100ml EdP