4 bones | The Scented Hound

March 9, 2017
by The Scented Hound 13 Comments

New Release: silencethesea by strangelove nyc

WHAT I SMELL: silencethesea opens salty and green, like seaweed hitting the shore of the beach; while at the same time it feels windswept and incredibly joyous. The perfume begins to warm as if the sun begins to shine in the late morning as the day comes to life. A sun-kissed and earthy floral emerges as if sitting right off the beach in the warmed protected area of the dune. The perfume becomes somewhat heady with the beefy florals that are silken and smooth. But before silencethesea gets too beefy, the perfume retreats and deepens with a light oud emitting from beneath the florals. This gives the perfume a bit of mystery and exoticness. After quite some time, the perfume settles into a very comfortable lightly sweetened oud with hints of candied white truffle and a light leather that hugs the skin that leaves you with your own personal secret story.

From strangelove nyc:

The fragrance is a complex blend based on the musky mysterious allure of pure ambergris, the rich warmth of rare oudh, a provocative whiff of white truffle, and a splash of salty jasmine deepened with earthy tuberose.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Warmed flowers among the sand dunes.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SILENCETHESEA: contemplative, warmed, reassuring

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SILENCETHESEA: Megan in Saint Maxime

BOTTOM LINE: silencethesea, one of three perfumes developed by Elizabeth Gaynes in partnership with supermodel Helena Christensen and perfumer Christophe Laudamiel, is my favorite in the line, although all three perfumes are distinct, incredibly unique and sublimely intimate. With silencethesea, a small dab of the perfume oil will transport you to your own personal private beach retreat.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Aromatic Aquatic
Nose: Christophe Laudamiel
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $55 for 1.25 ml perfume oil or $475 for 50ml eau de parfum (review based on the perfume oil). Available at Bergdorf Goodman or via the strangelove nyc website.

Sample provided by strangelove nyc. Opinion my own.

March 6, 2017
by The Scented Hound 11 Comments

New Release: Sandor 70’s by Carner Barcelona

WHAT I SMELL: Sandor 70’s completes a kick-start with a quick blast of bergamot that soon melds into a wonderfully warm floral suede. The florals then move to the more herbal with a clary sage note that is front and center. The perfume is smooth and incredibly engaging. Neither feminine nor masculine, the perfume defies a label. As the perfume continues to develop, it really begins to project and a dry woody timbre pushes out a light powder. Continuing on, a smoky note appears along with a dry vetiver, but as soon as I write that, the dryness makes way for a buttery vanilla. Here, the perfume is simply sublime as it fills the air with a rich, sophisticated suede that feels like it’s coming from a well of nature. It’s not dirty, nor heavy, instead, the perfume feels earthy and grounded and nostalgic. As it continues to unfold, the tobacco and the leather mix in a swirl of wafting smoke. Here, the dirt from the cobblestone streets meet the soles of the well-worn shoes that walk them.

From the Carner Barcelona website:

inspiration: “At the crest of upper Barcelona once a place to see and be seen, an iconic bar where the smoke of cigars flirted with the aristocratic leather armchairs…”

top notes – Suede Accord, Italian bergamot, Vintage Jasmin absolute, Chinese osmanthus absolute, Bulgarian rose essence

mid notes – Tobacco Accord, Clary sage absolute, Virginian cedar wood, Peru balsam, Mexican vanilla extract

base notes – Spanish leather accord, Patchouli essence, Vetyver essence, Ethiopian frankincense extract, Oak moss absolute

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Your favorite pair of well-worn leather/suede sandals. So comfortable, like an old friend.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SANDOR 70’s: vintage, careworn, comfortable

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SANDOR 70’s: Fragrance Daily

BOTTOM LINE: Part of the new Black Collection, Sandor 70’s is my favorite among the three perfumes in the line. Here, the nod to nostalgia is done perfectly and makes this a leather perfume that’s perfect for those who don’t like their leather over the top.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Leather
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $220 for 50 ml eau de parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily.

February 6, 2017
by The Scented Hound 13 Comments

New Release: Neela Vermeire Creations Rahele

“Rahele (traveller) is the newest fragrance, an ode to exotic travel, an olfactory journey in the company of 17th Century French visitors to the East.”

WHAT I SMELL: Rahele quietly opens soft but very luxurious, with a dewy green and velvety violet, tinged with the lightest of citrus and spice. There’s an incredible warmth that immediately draws you in. Soon after opening, a cinnamon note moves forward making a nice balance between the florals and the lightly exotic spice. After a few more minutes, a demure, but noticeable osmanthus comes forward. At this point the perfume feels like a still life painting filled with the most delicate of flowers and fruit. As the perfume continues to develop it begins to powder and dry. Even with a projecting powder, Rahele remains incredibly subdued and meticulously blended, where no particular note stands out, but is perfection in the sum of its parts. In the end, the lightest of leather topped by a layer of oakmoss makes this a sublime ode to French perfumery.

Notes from the Neele Vermeire Creations website:

Top Notes: Green Mandarine, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Violet Leaf Absolute

Heart Notes: Osmanthus Absolute, Rose Absolute, Magnolia, Jasmine Absolute, Iris, Violet

Base Notes: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Leather

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: What I envision a 17th Century powdered wig to smell like.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE RAHELE: powdery, proper, engaging

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT RAHELE: Megan in Sainte Maxime, AustralianPerfumeJunkies, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE: Rahele strays from the exotic flourishes of the other Neela Vermeire Creation perfumes in the collection, although not completely. Rahele is all about classic french perfume and as I am a huge fan of the classics…I have to say that this might be my favorite in the collection. But that’s like stating which of your children is your favorite…it can’t be done.

Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Woody Musk
Nose: Bertrand Duchaufour
Classification: Leans feminine
Expense: $235 for 60 ml eau de parfum.