The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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The Dilemma – 15% off

For all of us who love fragrances, the ultimate dilemma is whether we should or should not spend our hard-earned money on purchasing new scents when we already have an extensive collection that could last us for a lifetime.  But when we find out that one of our favorite retailers of high-end fragrances has a 15% off online promotional code, the tug of war really comes to the surface.  I found out that MiN New York presently has a 15% off promotional code that as far as I know, has no expiration date.  So that means it could be good for one day or one month.  In looking at the store’s online selections I am wringing my hands trying to decide of I should purchase a 50 ml bottle of Penhaligon’s LP No. 9.  Now, I haven’t ever sampled this fragrance and have only read reviews, but sometimes it’s just fun to purchase something sight unseen.  In the past when I have done this I’ve been happy with my purchases, with a few exceptions. Of course there is more to this story.  As I hadn’t added anything to my collection since Valentines Day (ok, I know that was only 3 weeks ago… but that was a gift), after sampling Ambra Nera by Farmacia SS. Annunziata dal 1561, I found that I was craving this fragrance so much that I went ahead and purchased a full bottle.  As I type this, it’s on the UPS truck making its way across the country.  So do I really need another purchase?  No.  Do I really want to make another purchase?  Yes.  Should I make another purchase?????  Thoughts?

MiN New York website.  Use promotional code:  BROS


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Armani Prive’ Ambre Soie by Armani

You will notice that I have been reviewing a lot of amber scents as of late.  Last month, I ordered a Men’s Amber sample pack from The Perfumed Court.  If you’re not familiar with them, they offer decant service on an incredible variety of fragrances, including hard to find ones.  But I digress.  One of the samples that was part of this group was Ambre Soie.  I was very excited to try this and found that I wasn’t disappointed.  I found this to be an incredibly luxurious scent.  Upon application, I was first greeted with a beautiful combination of ginger, pepper and spices.  It then moved on to a lovely creamy and ethereal amber and patchouli. Ambre Soie is a very calming and elegant fragrance.  I just wish I had more than what I have in my small vial.  I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to spray this gem on!

From the Giorgio Armani Beauty website:

Amber’s voluptuousness and depth appealed to Giorgio Armani. He re-interpreted this rare olfactive essence using the light of wood and eastern spices. It is a blend of Cinnamon and Clove, a hint of Ginger which rustles on the waves of Patchouli. The light touch of spices and liquorice wood venture deliciously into the amber. More weighty: Artist and magician, Giorgio Armani transforms the amber into a golden fluid, silky and smooth, revealing the skin, the ultimate elegance of exposure. The top, inspired by the most sumptuous amber stone reveals its transparency with golden, coppery tones. Its warmth echoing its sensual and radiant energy.

  • Bone Rating:   4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Oriental
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense:   Expensive – $200 for 100ml


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Educating the Scented Hound

The other day, one of the readers of this blog posed the following:

What do you know about perfume? Most people know what perfume is and many people use it themselves. When men use perfume, it is typically called cologne and the term “perfume” refers to a female’s brand. There are also perfumes for the home and car, etc. but the most common associated with the word is the kind you use on your body.

I have to admit that I have struggled with the same issue.  Cologne vs. perfume, male vs. female.  I know that colognes and parfums are made up different perfume concentrations, but how does that translate to terminology?

I took this question as an opportunity to further educate myself and decided to reach out to Elena Knezevic, Editor of Fragrantica.com.  She graciously provided the following explanation:

There is no strict definition.  Here in the US we usually say men’s colognes (without referring to their concentration), but some houses (French for example) offer eau de parfum, or even perfume (parfum or parfum extrait) for Men. We now see a strong trend to avoid the gender definition in fragrances, especially in luxury sector. It doesn’t mean they are unisex, we are free to decide. In this case they are all eau de parfum.  For example, Tom Ford Fragrances, they have no gender, but Tuscan Leather is mainly chosen by men, and Champaca Absolute – by women. Terre d’Hermes was launched as pure perfume extrait, and this s a perfume for men. Armani Prive collection, Serge Lutens
fragrances, it even has come to Arabian houses (they usually divide fragrances by gender), but the Omani house Amouage has its luxury Opus collection (6 fragrances so far) without reference to gender.

There was a time when men used colognes and bought them in drug stores and pharmacies together with cosmetic products, so it was more about hygiene, than luxury accessory. Perfumes were exclusively for women (in general of course, not totally). 

What are your thoughts on this matter?

Thanks to Elena K. for her valued input.