The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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Byredo Gypsy Water

Gypsy WaterWHAT I SMELL:  Gypsy Water opens with a glaze of lemon tinged juniper and pine, almost like that of Lemon Pledge, but with a sweeter vanilla finish which takes it from Lemon Pledge to more of a lemon custard.  After a short time, the perfume begins to soften and them lemon becomes light and tart and slightly sour with addition of a quiet incense and wood.  I was expecting Gypsy Water to be a lively and phrenetic fragrance, but instead, it’s rather subdued and unassuming.  After around 20 minutes, the pine, amber and sandalwood come together to provide for a creamy, but lightly incensed powdered warmth.  In the end, Gypsy Water is a lightly warmed quiet woody perfume, that although unassuming, is rather mysterious.

From the Byredo website:

GYPSY WATER IS A GLAMORIZATION OF THE ROMANY LIFESTYLE, BASED ON A FASCINATION WITH THE MYTH. THE SCENT OF FRESH SOIL, DEEP FORESTS AND CAMPFIRES EVOKES THE DREAM OF A FREE, COLORFUL LIFESTYLE CLOSE TO NATURE.

TOP: BERGAMOT, LEMON, PEPPER, JUNIPER BERRIES
HEART: INCENSE, PINE NEEDLES, ORRIS
BASE: AMBER, VANILLA, SANDALWOOD

warm breezeWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A warm breeze lilting through the forest.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE GYPSY WATER:  quiet, comforting, peaceful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GYPSY WATER: Perfume Posse, What Men Should Smell Like, Katie Puckrik Smells

BOTTOM LINE:  Gypsy Water doesn’t have a lot of projection, but is instead a really nice skin scent that is unique with its citrus and woody incense combination.  It’s perfect for the office, or for those quiet days when you want to feel special just for yourself and no one else.

  • Bone Rating:  3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Woody Aromatic
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $145 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum


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New Release: La Cologne de Rosine by Les Parfums de Rosine

La Cologne de Rosine2

WHAT I SMELL:  La Cologne de Rosine opens up with a bright and fresh citrus that feels like it’s splashed with a refreshing tonic.  In a few minutes, a bright clean rose and violet combo give the perfume a pretty persona.  For being a pretty girl, the perfume has some pretty powerful projection, but there’s nothing heavy about La Cologne de Rosine because the “big” is as light as a feather. After some more time, a light musk and wood bring a clean and slightly “bathtastic” brush stroke of powder to the beaming florals which are warmed with the lightest of amber.  In the end, La Cologne de Rosine is a pretty rose tinged with freesia that is lit with rays of sunshine.

From the Les Parfums de Rosine website:

Notes:   Bergamot, Citrus, Tangerine, Rose Essence, Freesia, Violet,  Cedar Wood, White Musk, Amber

Cumulus2WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Large white fluffy cumulus clouds moving quickly across the backdrop of the bluest sky.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE LA COLOGNE DE ROSINE: uncomplicated, clean, easy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LA COLOGNE DE ROSINE: EauMG, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE:  If you’re looking for a perfume that is clean with a floral radiance, La Cologne de Rosine is the perfect solution.

  • Bone Rating:  3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral
  • Classification: Leans feminine
  • Expense: 105 Euros for 100 ml Eau de Parfum available from the Les Parfums de Rosine website


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New Release: One Night in Rio

One Night in RioWHAT I SMELL:  One Night in Rio opens with a luscious sweet and juicy passion fruit; like a bowl full of fruit and melon goodness, so ripe and with just picked freshness.  Quickly a dash of pepper comes to sit on top of the fruit extracting the almost too much fruity juicy goodness to more of an exotic spiced cocktail.  The perfume rapidly starts to dry and moves from fruity to floral.  The florals are pretty, very sexy and round and robust…but still topped with a grounded pepper.  After around 10 minutes, the vanilla slowly enters giving the perfume a slightly sweetened tinge.  Add to that a light coconut and waxy suntan lotion note and the perfume now makes you feel that you’re walking along the beach at Impanema.  One Night in Rio is interesting in that it lives in this other worldly state of sweet and spice, floral and pepper; which means that the perfume is completely and utterly exotic.

From from the A Lab on Fire website:

Passion Fruit Pillow

Passion Fruit Pillow

Night air strokes skin, cheek against shoulder, neck bare. Night air against curved back, touched gently, a new love—his open-armed embrace. Music catches up to you and everyone is dancing, the road is dancing, the cars are dancing. Guarded by its jungled hills, their wide leaves too green, night sky too blue, the city pools. Immerse yourself. Spread your arms out, lithe and swaying. The music plays inside you. Bright street, dark alley. One night to discover a delicate moment in full bloom.

Top~ black pepper, neroli, Mid~ passion fruit, tiare flower, magnolia, Dry~ musk, white amber, vanilla bean

Diosa Costello

The original Latina Bombshell – Diosa Costello

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  The perfume is modern, yet very nostalgic…and invokes visions of a Latina Bombshell surrounded by big print 1940’s upholstery.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ONE NIGHT IN RIO:  sexy, easy, lively

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ONE NIGHT IN RIO: I was unable to find any other reviews, except for a few comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE:  One Night in Rio is developed by A Lab on Fire, but is being released as “unbranded.”  I’m not sure what that’s all about and does it really matter?  The fact is that One Night in Rio is a fun and sexy perfume to remind you that even though it’s going to start getting colder soon in the northern hemisphere, you can always head down to Rio for a little summer fun.

  • Bone Rating:  3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral Fruity
  • Nose: Jean-Marc Chaillan
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $110 for 60 ml Eau de Parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary