3 bones | The Scented Hound

June 17, 2015
by The Scented Hound 3 Comments

Vintage Dior Dioressence

WHAT I SMELL: Dioressence opens with a warm and bold patchouli combined with a tad of vanilla. It’s pretty, warm and inviting. That initial blast of patchouli starts to diminish to reveal a creamy floral mix punctuated with a spicy carnation. After 10 minutes, the perfume begins to dry and become lightly powdered which is great because it helps to pull the perfume away again from being dominated by the patchouli. After another 20 minutes the softens a bit more, but at the heart of Dioressence is a warm and inviting patchouli that tops a rounded and rather beefy mix of florals. Dioressence is radiant, slightly carnal and very in control.

Notes from Fragrantica:

Top notes are aldehydes, orange, fruity notes, patchouli, green notes and bergamot; middle notes are carnation, tuberose, cinnamon, violet, orris root, jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose and geranium; base notes are musk, patchouli, benzoin, vanilla, oakmoss, vetiver and styrax.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Central Park NYC in the Fall.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE DIORESSENCE: secure, confident, sensual

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DIORESSENCE: Now Smell This, I Scent You a Day, The Non-Blonde

BOTTOM LINE: As with many vintage perfumes, the top notes are first to go, so I didn’t experience any aldehyde and bergamot rush in the opening. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a beauty. Au contraire…it’s very pretty. Actually, it reminds me greatly of the discontinued MPG George Sand. No wonder I like it so much!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Chypre Floral
Nose: Guy Robert
Classification: Unisex
Expense: Varies. Review based on vintage Eau de Toilette

June 4, 2015
by The Scented Hound 13 Comments

Armani Prive Pivoine Suzhou

WHAT I SMELL: Pivoine Suzhou opens with a sweet, fresh, juicy and mouth-watering fruitiness, with just a tinge of pepper. The florals are front and center with the peony as the star and it’s bright and easy and gracefully light. After a few minutes, a light ambery warmth brings a radiance to the mix. A layer of musk also comes into play which unfortunately takes the pretty florals into a more artificial stage that feels as though the perfume has been created in a lab rather than in a garden. It also adds a slight “bathtastic” edge to the perfume even though there is nothing soapy about it. In the end, Pivoine Suzhou doesn’t wow, but instead maintains a quiet beauty that is easy to wear and is perfect as a light spring breeze.

From the Armani website:

With Pivoine Suzhou, Giorgio Armani has reinterpreted the Eau de Toilette, combining elegance and freshness with soft, lingering sensuality.

It is the first Armani Privé fragrance to be inspired by the legendary gardens of Asia.

Pivoine Suzhou Eau de Toilette is also a celebration of China’s most beloved flower – the peony. The symbol of the ancient Chinese empire, the peony represents happiness, grace and prosperity.

Pivoine Suzhou is an ensemble of great beauty, balancing art and nature. For Giorgio Armani, creating a couture or fragrance collection requires this same harmony of elements.

From Fragrantica:

ARMANI PRIVE PIVOINE SUZHOU opens with notes of juicy mandarin, pink pepper and raspberry which when blended, ensures a spicy-fruity introduction. Floral notes of peony in the heart are enhanced with essences of rose and May rose absolute, followed by amber, musk and patchouli.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A beautiful Geisha

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PIVOINE SUZHOU: fruit-kissed, airy, delicate

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PIVOINE SUZHOU: Sandra’s Closet, AustralianPerfumeJunkies

BOTTOM LINE: I don’t love this perfume, but I rather like it. There’s a delicateness about it that is rather comforting and overall the light and pretty aspects are enticing. But a little goes a long way and too much of a good thing will reveal a heavy sweetness so it’s best to apply with a light touch.

Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Cecile Matton and Julie Masse
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $165 for 100 ml Eau de Toilette

May 13, 2015
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

Eau de Givenchy by Givenchy

WHAT I SMELL: Eau de Givenchy opens with a lovely opening of bright bergamot which melds into a minty, soapy, light orange. The perfume is clean and minty fresh and pleasingly uncomplicated. After a few minutes the mint begins to dissipate to reveal a more floral heart that’s still light, but is also warmed and radiant. The white and slightly soapy florals that feels somewhat green are the stars here in this simple and easy to wear pretty perfume. There’s not much to say about Eau de Givenchy except that simple sometimes makes perfect.

From Fragrantica:

Eau de Givenchy opens with the sparkling notes of grapefruit, accompanied by sweet and fresh notes of mandarin orange and bergamot, mint and red fruit. The middle notes add luscious and intensive scent of ylang-ylang, honeysuckle, pure jasmine, narcissus, tuberose, lily-of-the-valley, rose, cyclamen and orris root. Base notes introduce warm sandalwood, musk, cedar and oakmoss.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A pretty, easy to wear, simple summer dress.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE EAU DE GIVENCHY: easy, effortless, pleasing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT EAU DE GIVENCHY: I couldn’t find any on this quiet and unassuming 1980s launched perfume.

BOTTOM LINE: What’s interesting about Eau de Givenchy is that it was created at the time when perfumes were big, bold and over the top just like the fashion of the time. Eau de Givenchy is the antithesis of all of the excess and that’s probably why it continues to be in production. It’s just that light and easy.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Daniel Moliere and Daniel Hoffmann
Classification: Feminine
Expense: Varies greatly online for Eau de Toilette