The Scented Hound

March 24, 2012
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

Profumo by Acqua di Parma

Today I broke one of my permanent collection scents that I haven’t touched in quite a while. I probably made this purchase 5 or so years ago and it was one of my favorites, but all perfumistas know that we go through cycles when something we love goes to the back-burner only to be replaced with a new scent. The difference with this scent is that it veers from the masculine and is considered a feminine scent. Profumo by Acqua di Parma is a lovely and elegant chype. A light floral with a hint of spice and powder, it’s beautifully composed and comfortable to wear. It’s not something that I would wear on a regular basis and when this bottle is gone, I’m not sure that I would buy another; but it has served me well.

Profumo Notes: Jasmine, May Rose, Ylang-Ylang

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Classification: Feminine
Expense: From $299 for 100ml, EDP

March 24, 2012
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

Itasca by Lubin

I was really excited to sample Lubin’s Itasca, the scent that was designed to represent the North American Forest. Itasca is named after Lake Itasca in Minnesota, my home state. My father was actually born not far from Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi River gives birth. So as a native son, I was trying to see if this scent represented what I think of Minnesota. Unlike my last review of 1828 by Histoires de Parfums where I loved the opening of the scent, but did not like the dry down; this is pretty much the opposite. The dry down is lovely and the opening is nice, but considering the fact that with most scents you live with the dry down for the most part, I couldn’t have been happier. Itasca opens with a fresh blast of grapefruit and pine. It’s fresh, green and clean. It’s also very soothing and smooth. Pine can sometimes get sharp, this does not. In the end, Itasca evens out into what I would say is a floral scent, with just a hint of powder. Itasca overall is a cool, clean and refreshing scent. I think Lubin did a wonderful job of representing my home state.

From the Lubin website:

Top Notes: neroli, marigold, mandarin, juniper berry, grapefruit

Middle Notes: clove, tonka bean, clary sage, nutmeg, geranium flower

Base Notes: Itasca Red Pine, Java Vetiver, Texas Cedar, Partak Incense, Ethiopian Myrrh, amber, Canadian Fir Balsam

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Classification: Masculine
Expense: $110 for 75ml, EDT

March 21, 2012
by The Scented Hound 2 Comments

1828 by Histoires de Parfums

1828 (Jules Verne) by Histoires de Parfums is a scent that when I first put it on, I knew I was going to love. Today was going to be a pretty spring day so I wanted to try something light. In looking at the composition, I thought this would be a perfect fit. The top notes are fantastic; citrus, grapefruit, eucalyptus…the perfect refreshing mix to get the day started. Nothing like a good zesty opening to put a spring in your step! After a bit, the citrus dissipated and out came a woody and peppery mix; still zesty, but the scent started moving into a more piney embodiment. I still was in awe. OK, sometimes, good things must come to an end. Unfortunately, 1828 moved into a direction in the end that didn’t agree with me. In the end, this fragrance just became sharp. Still woody, still piney, but something else left the scent, some bit of warmth, and it just became a bit annoying. I found this sharp and biting quality driving me to a headache. Can I just have the top notes back please??

From the Histories de Parfums website:

Top Note: Grapefruit, Citrus, Tangerine, Eucalyptus
Heart Note: Nutmeg, Pepper
Base Note: Cedar, Incense, Vetiver, Pine cone