The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


by 10 Comments

gs02 by biehl parfumkunstwerke

gs02

The other day I was lucky enough to receive some samples of the biehl parfumkunstwerke line of fragrances.  They recently have been made available in the US market and I had yet to have any introduction to them, so I was excited to check them out.  My plan was to provide a review on biehl parfumkunstwerke’s gs03 which is their newest release, but for some reason I was strangely drawn to sample gs02 (released in 2007) instead.  Maybe notes like castoreum and descriptors like “erotic” had something to do with it!

WHAT I SMELL:  gs02 opens with an herbal orange/citrus note which is clean and somewhat astringent.  Quickly, gs02 begins to develop a bit of a sour note and in the background there lurks some castoreum, which gives the fragrance a bit of dirtiness…but it remains in the background.  I keep waiting for the leather, but it’s not quick to make its appearance and when it does, it too lurks in the background unwilling to really pounce.  After about 15 minutes, gs02 becomes more woody and after almost 30 minutes, the fragrance warms and becomes more radiant.  It’s funny, gs02 blends seamlessly and it’s incredibly restrained which makes this a wonderfully mysterious and hypnotic scent.

From the biehl parfumkunstwerke website:

charisma. determination. arrogance can be erotic after all.

head: aromatic, spicy.
the liveliness and elegance of absinth, Campari, orange, thyme, angelica roots

heart: leather perfectly combined with castoreum, rounded off very erotically with

base: ambergris, tonka been, vanilla

slyfoxWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A sly fox.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE gs02:  sexy, subtle, confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT gs02:  That Smell (I couldn’t find any others)

BOTTOM LINE:  gs02 is lovely and a bit sexy, but very subtle.  I believe this would be a good fit if you need a great office scent that would translate well into the after work happy hour.

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Leather
  • Nose:  Geza Schon
  • Classification: Unisex – but leans masculine
  • Expense:  $195 for 100ml EdP

Sample provided by Hypoluxe, official distributor of biehl parfumkunstwerke products.


by 31 Comments

Noontide Petals by Tauer Perfumes

noontide petalsWHAT I SMELL:  Noontide Petals opens with seriously bright aldehydes and almost Pixy Stix like candied sweetened bergamot.  Finally, that bright opening which feels to me like temporary blindness when the sun is caught in your car’s rear view mirror, gives way to a creamy florals with ylang-ylang in the forefront.  After about 10 minutes or so, the various notes start to blend seamlessly with a warm sandalwood which deepens the fragrance into an all-encompassing well.  Added to the warm blend is a slight powder which give this an old-fashioned and classic feel.  In the end, Noontide Petals resides in this nice, even, warm and slightly powdered patchouli deliciousness.

From the Tauer Perfumes website:

Head Notes:  A glittering opening:  Bergamot, sparkling aldehydes softened by Bourbon geranium.

Heart Notes:  A seductive chord of bright petals: Finest rose, ylang, tuberose, jasmine.

Body Notes:  A supple and sensuous gleam:  Patchouli, frankincense, vanilla, sandalwood, iris, with a hint of styrax and vetiver.

1962bagflowersWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  1962

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE NOONTIDE PETALS:  nostalgic, warm, classic

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NOONTIDE PETALS: I Scent You a Day, Chemist in a Bottle, I Smell Therefore I Am

BOTTOM LINE:  I was worried that I would never find an Andy Tauer fragrance that I liked.  What I have sampled thus far has been challenging at best.  Noontide Petals breaks that mold and I could seriously see myself with a full bottle in the future.  Thanks Andy!

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Floral Aldehyde
  • Nose:  Andy Tauer
  • Classification: Unisex – but leans feminine
  • Expense:  $120 for 50ml EdT


by 20 Comments

Les Nombres d’Or Violette Fumee by Mona di Orio Parfums

violettefumeeWHAT I SMELL: Violette Fumee opens with the most beautiful lavender and bergamot combination; it’s herbal and refreshing in a creamy comforting way.  After a few minutes, the fragrance starts to warm and become deeper as a beefy oakmoss emerges from the bottom that envelopes and seems to fold over the lavender.  After about 10 minutes or so, the violet seems to make an appearance from the edge of the fragrance.   I know this is going to sound strange, but it’s appearance is like prairie dogs popping their head out of the ground.  What I mean is that the violet doesn’t come out at once, but seems to pop in and out until eventually you feel like you are surrounded by violets tinged with rose.  Violette Fumee at this point still retains its creaminess but it becomes slightly brighter without becoming sheer.  What I love about this is that the herbal aspects of the fragrance keep this from becoming too floral and pretty which allow Violette Fumee to retain a substantive elegance.  After some time, the myrrh and opoponax emerge from below and a slight suede provides for a beautiful finish to this multi-faceted fragrance.

Violette Fumee Notes:

Top notes:  Mediterranean Lavender, Bergamot from Calabria, Oakmoss from the Balkans

Heart notes:  Violet flowers and leaves from Egypt, Turkish Rose, Veitver from Haiti, Clary Sage

Base notes;  Opoponax and Myrrh from Somalis, Cashmeran

Viola-odorataWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A page from a 19th century botanical illustrative leather bound book.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE VIOLETTE FUMEE:  transformative, calming, elegant

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VIOLETTE FUMEE: Cafleurebon

BOTTOM LINE:  Violet fragrances have not been my friend in the past as I find that they are typically too feminine for my taste.  Violette Fumee breaks that mold.  The violet doesn’t completely dominate and take over in a sweet and simplistic fashion.  The first time I wore this, I really liked it, but the 2nd time I have to say that I loved it.  Voilette Fumee is an elegant and substantial fragrance, that holds layers upon layers of wonderful surprises.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Oriental Fougere
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense:  EdP Intense to be launched in September 2013

Promotional sample provided by Mona Di Orio Parfums.