3 bones | The Scented Hound

January 27, 2015
by The Scented Hound 3 Comments

Bois 1920 Vetiver Ambrato

WHAT I SMELL: Vetiver Ambrato opens with bergamot, warmed cloves and spiced geranium; it’s very cozy and rather masculine. After a couple of minutes, the fragrance becomes almost mentholated as the lavender and vetiver blend into an amber finish with just a slight sour touch of patchouli. There’s a tobacco that makes its way into the mix and a mild booziness and a bit of finished old world leather. After 15 minutes, the fragrance lightens and become more powdery as a light vanilla adds just the right amount of sweetness without adding any heaviness. In the end, the Bois 1920 is a powdered dusting of comfort.

From the Bois 1920 website:

Elegantly and profoundly seductive.

An absolutely masculine perfume that embodies all the power and mystery of modern man.

These suggestions of the fragrant architecture of an eau de toilette make their debut with sparkling, tonic notes towards a warm and spicy middle note to conclude with a virile, provocative top note that surprises again and again.

Top: Bergamot, Lemon, Petitgrain, Cloves, Geranium, Artemisia
Heart: Patchouly, Lavender, Vetyver, Sandalwood, Cedarwood
Dry down: Tobacco leaves, Musk, Amber, Vanilla, Benzoin, Labdanum, Galbanum

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Your grandfathers favorite chair at the cabin at the lake; it’s worn and comfy and smells of pipe, wood and lots of wonderful living.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE VETIVER AMBRATO: comfy, easy-going, secure

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VETIVER AMBRATO: NotableScents, ChickenFreak’s Obsession

BOTTOM LINE: This is a vetiver scent that’s not all about vetiver and it’s an amber scent that’s not all about amber. What you get is a nice combination of muted qualities from both. So if you don’t like truly green vetiver fragrances or heavy and brown amber scents, this might be just the right fragrance for you!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental Woody
Nose: Enzo Galardi
Classification: Unisex, but leans masculine
Expense: Varies greatly per store or site. Eau de Toilette.

January 23, 2015
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

Gucci Guilty Pour Homme

WHAT I SMELL: Gucci Guilty opens with skin bracing bergamot and citrus laden lavender (thankfully the lavender is light). Within a few minutes there’s a sugared layer of wood and patchouli added to the mix. At this point, Gucci Guilty is rather buoyant, refreshing and very accessible. After around 5 minutes, the sugared aspects begin to disappear and the fragrance flattens and becomes more woody and a bit salty, which is a nice touch as it makes the scent feel more part of your body than something that’s just sitting above it. I was expecting Gucci Guilty to be big and in your face. Instead, it’s surprisingly muted and understated making it very easy to wear.

From the Gucci website:

a contemporary fougère fragrance
top notes of lavender and lemon
heart note of orange flower
base notes of cedar wood and patchouli

Easy Living

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Living in uncomplicated ease.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE GUCCI GUILTY: easy, understated, unremarkable

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GUCCI GUILTY: Now Smell This, EauMG

BOTTOM LINE: With a name like “Guilty,” one would expect a fragrance that is decadent to say the least. In spite of its name, Gucci Guilty is about a harmless as a kitten. For a men’s fragrance, it’s OK as there is nothing unique about it which is too bad, because the opening starts off rather promising. But in the end, you’re left with a pretty quiet perfume that’s “just nice.”

Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Aromatic Fougere
Nose: Jacques Huclier
Classification: Masculine
Expense: Varies. $62 for 50 ml Eau de Toilette

December 29, 2014
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

Bottega Veneta Knot

WHAT I SMELL: Knot is immediately cool to the skin and the opening is this refreshing mix of citrus and lavender. It’s clean, fresh and light and irresistibly pretty. After 10 minutes or so the musk and Tonka joins the mix to provide a bit of sour which soon dissipates to create more of a clean haze. The fragrance which started off light and pretty has moved slightly warmer to reveal a more sensual side with the lovely comforting florals sitting front and center. As it further develops, the fragrance becomes a lightly powdery, musky and pretty comfort scent.

From the Bottega Veneta website:

Exotic and refreshing notes of clementine intertwine with a delicate heart of soothing lavender, the rich floral accord of rose and the lingering sensuality of peony essence, evoking the unforgettable breeze of the Italian Riviera on a sultry summer evening. An enigmatic base note of uplifting musk and Tonka absolute adds a passionate and lingering texture.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Dining alfresco under the stars and pretty lights on a warm summer’s eve.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE KNOT: pretty, dreamy, breezy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT KNOT: Bois de Jasmin, Thirteen Thoughts, The Smelly Vagabond

BOTTOM LINE: Knot is a nice, easy to wear perfume that can easily take your mind off the doldrums of winter. I normally don’t care of clean musk fragrances, but the musk is carefully controlled and doesn’t completely dominate the perfume. Oh, and I love the bottle too; a great design.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Daniela (Roche) Andrier
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $125 for 1.7 oz. Eau de Parfum