2 bones | The Scented Hound

July 20, 2013
by The Scented Hound 11 Comments

Paradis Perdu by Frapin

WHAT I SMELL: Paradis Perdu opens with citrus and bergamot that’s not bright, but instead is sour and slightly biting. The galbanum quickly then becomes evident; its mossy green and very direct and the fragrance remains sharp and biting. After a bit, the green becomes more hay like and Paradis Perdue becomes a bit dryer and more woody; it’s sheer and light and completely meh. This is basically where the development of the fragrance ends.

From the Frapin website:

Created with the vitality of Art nouveau, Paradis Perdu is an ode to the vineyards around the property. The perfumer, Amélie Bourgeois, drew her inspiration from the expanses of land, conjuring effervescence with curved lines, somewhere between gushing and encircling.

Paradis Perdu Notes (from Fragrantica):

Top notes are Bergamot, Grapefruit, Citron, Yellow Mandarin, Leaf Blend (Basil, Spinach, Vine, Ravensara), Galbanum, Elemi, Paradisamide, Vetiver, Hay, Virginia Cedarwood, Rosewood, Labdanum, Precious Woods, Mosses, Musks

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A yawn.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PARADIS PERDU: boring, sour, dull

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PARADIS PERDU: I couldn’t find any other reviews for this 2013 launch.

BOTTOM LINE: Being underwhelmed may be an understatement.

Bone Rating: 2 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Woody Aromatic
Nose: Amélie Bourgeois
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $145 for 100ml EdP

June 18, 2013
by The Scented Hound 23 Comments

Tom Ford Sahara Noir

You would think by this time that I would have learned that when wearing a Tom Ford fragrance that less is more. In other words, a little Tom Ford goes a long way. So now that we established that I overspritzed, that set the tone for the rest of my experience with Sahara Noir.

WHAT I SMELL: Hay. It smells hay like that has been sitting in a barn for some time. The smoke from a nearby fire has been absorbed by the hay. There’s incense and what may be a hint of bergamot, but mostly smoky hay. Nothing really happens much after this except that the hay becomes a bit dryer and woody and maybe just a tad sweeter; but I think that’s just wishful thinking and my mind playing tricks on me.

From Fragrantica:

Sahara Noir is an oriental-woody scent based on incense. Bitter orange, Levantine cypress (known as one of the plants growing in the gardens of the 1001 Arabian Nights) and cistus essence Orpur® (Orpur® are high-quality natural ingredients of extraordinary purity, developed by Givaudan) open the composition. The heart blends frankincence essence Orpur®, cinnamon, cool papyrus extract, rose absolute from Morocco and Egyptian jasmin with honeyed and animalic shades of beeswax from Burma.The base centers around warm amber notes – made of labdanum absolute and ambreinol (an intense natural labdanum fraction), cedar, frankincense resin, benzoin, vanilla, oud and balsams.

OK, I am seriously missing something here because Sahara Noir is incredibly linear and I am missing what I wish I could smell, like the rose absolute, jasmine and other notes that could brighten this a bit.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Of course, I can only say…smoky hay.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE SAHARA NOIR: boring, dull, there (I know, there is not an adjective, but Sahara Noir is just “there”)

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SAHARA NOIR: Adventures of Barberella, Scents of Self, Notable Scents

BOTTOM LINE: When I first put on Sahara Noir I found it promising. I thought that it would develop and morph into something interesting. Unfortunately, it ended up sitting on me like a log. By the end of the work day I was incredibly tired and worn out from wearing this fragrance so much so that I just couldn’t wait to get home and put something else on. Uggggh.

Bone Rating: 2.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Oriental Woody
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $150 for 50ml EdP

May 1, 2013
by The Scented Hound 19 Comments

The Infidels by Agonist

WHAT I SMELL: The Infidels goes on with a citrus/cloved combination that’s exotic and almost Indian in its essence. Quickly it moves into a floral stage that’s tinged with patchouli. The patchouli floral combination is earthy and sweetly rich. It then starts to morph into this earth mama hippie phase that I just can’t handle. To me it’s not nauseating, but there is nothing pleasurable about the sickly sweet tones which to me are kind of dirty and skanky. Mind you, this fragrance isn’t heavy and it stays pretty close to the skin. Finally, The Infidels sits in a lightly floral arena with an almost a chocolately vibe in the final drydown which is sweet, but not thick. The fragrance after a few hours becomes so ethereal and after about 5 hours all but disappeared on me. Fine with me.

The Infidels Notes:

Top Notes: Pink Pepper Corn, Sicilian Lemon, Cloves, Indian Davana and Elemi

Body Notes: May Rose, Turkish Rose, Sambac Jasmine, Egyptian Jasmine, Burmese Magnolia, Iris, Comoros Ylang Ylang, Somali Myrrh, Opoponax

Base Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Cistus, Peruvian Balm, Lebanese Cedarwood, Virginia Cedarwood, Indian Amber, Bourbon Vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The most prevalent smell is that of a local earthy crunchy store filled with scented soaps that smell of exotic oils that’s somewhat hippieish. I feel like I should be wearing some kind of long earth mama skirt to enjoy this. To me, this is not pleasurable.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE THE INFIDELS: hippieish, sweetened, semi-skanked

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE INFIDELS: That Smell, Scentsory Meltdown

BOTTOM LINE: As you can tell, I’m not a big fan. For the cost of this fragrance, I feel like I could go and purchase a $10 tin of solid fragrance at the local Whole Foods Market and smell the same.

Bone Rating: 2.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Oriental
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $195 for 50ml EdP