The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

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Amouage Opus XII Rose Incense

What would Valentine’s Day be without the obligatory review of a rose perfume?  I aim to please, so let’s see what Amouage has in store for us on this special day dedicated to love…

WHAT I SMELL:  Rose Incense opens with a lightly warmed incensed rose that quickly starts to bloom with a metallic edge.  It’s as if a full bodied red rose has been sliced with an ancient sword and with such deft and swift action it has left remnants of the metal infused with the rapturous rose.  The perfume is full of depth and mystery as it continues to enfold itself in an aura of light incense.  The rose, metal and smoke seem to smolder with an ambery warmth, but I feel at this time as if it is a prelude of what is to come.  But that transition is slow to come, or should I say that the journey is a thoughtful and meditative one.  The perfume does sweeten just a little with hints of vanilla weaving in and out, but that seems to evade me because it feels as if sometimes it’s there and other times it doesn’t reveal itself.  However, what does happen in the end is that the vanilla begins to meld into the perfume to make for the most delicious creamy rose and incense forcefield.  The vanilla, along with a beautiful sandalwood help to escort out the metallic note which to me makes for a much more soft and welcoming wear.

Notes from the Amouage website:

ODE TO CHILDHOOD INNOCENSE

I should like a Rose, crimson and joyous. Velvety petals draped in clear, religious Elemi and coated in the sensual smoke of Olibanum Hyperabsolute – they remind me of our pure emotions, as we fell in love for the first ever time. I remember of Damascus Rose Water, flawless like our smiles; and caramel-coloured Incense Absolute, sweet like those hours lost in the depths of our imaginations.
What remains when our lives come to pass?
With bewitching and metallic streaks of Black Ink, I shall write down the memories of our love.
Moments, images and sensations of bitter Myrrh.
Vanilla is sweet, Sandalwood takes me to heavens of silk but Cedarwood reminds me of reality, dry, brittle and dense like Suede.
Inspired by the uncertainty of the ‘Rosebud’ mystery in ‘Citizen Kane’, Rose Incense is an ambery and pointilliste constellation of gleaming moments whose beauty compels us to believe that only childhood memories are real.
Perfumer: Bruno Jovanovic
    • Top Notes: Elemi, Olibanum (Frankincense) Hyper Absolute, Black Ink Accord.
    • Heart Notes: Damascena Rose Water Essential, Suederal, Frankincense Absolute.
    • Base Notes: Myrrh, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Cedarwood.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  The perfumer’s Citizen Kane inspiration is perfect with a beautiful rose, the metallic blades from the sled and the incense to magnify the sled’s destruction…ROSEBUD.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ROSE INCENSE:  calm, serious, mysterious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT INCENSE: The Velvet Life

BOTTOM LINE:  As part of the Library Collection, Rose Incense is a perfume that may not be incredibly unique.  However, like most Amouage perfumes it is a rose cut above the rest with quality and an execution that far surpasses many of the other rose/incense combinations that you will find on the market.  Any Valentine would be so lucky to be wearing this today.

    • Bone Rating:  4 out of possible 5 bones
    • Scent:  Floral Amber
    • Nose: Bruno Jovanovic
    • Classification: Unisex
    • Expense: $360 for 100 ml eau de parfum


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Juliette Has a Gun Magnolia Bliss

WHAT I SMELL:  Magnolia Bliss pulls you in with a fresh and fruity enhanced bergamot that is quickly met with a gorgeous magnolia and a ripe and juicy plum and peach.  It’s lusciously smooth and oh so inviting.  The mixture of florals and fruits are intoxicating and it’s full of vibrant sunshine and a happy demeanor.  After a short time, the rounded fruit and florals begin to tame and move from full juiciness to a sweetened creamy silkiness.  Here the perfume seems to drift happily off the skin with some wonderful projection leaving a trail of positive energy in its wake.  As the perfume continues to settle, a warmed musk adds a wrap of comfort around the pretty magnolia.  Magnolia Bliss is exactly that… pure unadulterated bliss!

From the Juliette Has a Gun website:

Peace in a Bottle:  Here comes Magnolia Bliss, a floral fruity composition, the perfect blend of a Magnolia essence, a juicy Mirabelle Plum, and a fresh Bergamot Essence.
Inspired by the 70’s, freedom, and beach summer sunsets…Peace!

Top note:  Bergamot

Heart Note:  Magnolia Essence, Mirabelle Plum

Bottom Notes:  Musks, Ambroxam

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Sun drenched pink magnolias.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE MAGNOLIA BLISS:  fresh, joyful, delightful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MAGNOLIA BLISS:  CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  Magnolia Bliss is just that…pure bliss.  It’s not complicated nor full of surprise developments, but it’s easy to love.  This is a perfume that would work no matter the time of year if you just need to add a bit of positive energy into your life.  

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral Fruity
  • Classification: Leans feminine
  • Expense: $105 for 50 ml eau de parfum. Also available in 100 ml size.

* Sample provided by Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary.


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New Release: Puredistance M V2Q

WHAT I SMELL:   M V2Q explodes on the skin with a dry and smooth lavender and an electric pink peppercorn.  In all, it’s a surprisingly big opening.  In quick manner the perfume dries and powders and seemingly expands.  As it does, the perfume starts reaching to the depths with a warmed cinnamon tinged leather and begins to move to the more creamy with the addition of a beautiful jasmine sambac.  I was a little worried from the start because the perfume was so dry that when I smelled it literally constricted my nostrils, but my worries dissipated with the growing creaminess and the beautiful floral heart.  At this stage, the perfume is warm and inviting and increasingly sensual.  The perfume seems to infuse itself into ones’ skin as one making it more of an essence than a layer of fragrance.  As the perfume continues to develop, the cream begins to subside making way for a sharper mix of patchouli and tonka.  Here M V2Q seems to flex its muscle with a nicely masculine beefiness that is not shy in the least.  But once again the perfume seems to roll on out to the smooth and creamy as it settles from the more provocative to the more sublime.  M V2Q is a handsome devil of a perfume.

From the Puredistance website:

M V2Q is utterly smooth and refined. Welcome to a world of soft leather charm. This perfume is comfortable, powerful and bright at the same time. And true to the carefully curated collection of Puredistance, M V2Q is an extrait with excellent projection and longevity.

Top Notes: Orange blossom, Pink peppercorn, Lavender essence 

Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Cypriol, Pine tar, Jasmine Sambac

Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Labdanum, Tonka, Cedarwood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Daniel Craig as 007.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE M V2Q:  confident, smooth, intriguing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT M V2Q:  The Plum Girl, Parfumistans blogg, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  Puredistance has discontinued their masculine masterpiece M and replaced it in their collection with M V2Q due to the unavailability of some of the ingredients based on new IFRA regulations.  Instead of trying to re-create the magic of M, they decided to work with perfumer Antoine Lie to bring new life to the perfume by modernizing it but within the same vein as the original.  M was inspired by the iconic James Bond 007…M V2Q is inspired by the latest Bond, Daniel Craig.  And it completely works.  For you lovers of the original M, there will be no worries moving to M V2Q.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Leather
  • Nose:  Antoine Lie
  • Classification: Leans masculine
  • Expense: Starting at 175 Euros for 17ml parfum extrait (28% perfume oil).