4 bones | The Scented Hound

May 1, 2014
by The Scented Hound 12 Comments

New Release: Junky by Jardins D’Ecrivains

WHAT I SMELL: Junky opens with this tangy herbal then quickly sour rather hempish opening. It’s like marijuana sticks and buds mixed with a bit of lemon sour. It’s pungent, yet intriguing because it’s different. After a couple of minutes a flattened quality comes in, but yet it’s tinged with light bits of candied flavored Pixy Stix. So far Junky is rather woody, but soon enough, the pretty iris comes into play. Again its unusual but very pretty. There’s also this contingency of oak moss and incense that snakes its way underneath the floral. As it progresses, Junky becomes more tart and much drier. After around the 30 minute mark, the tartness starts to subside and the fragrance becomes slightly sweeter. No, wait…after another 15 minutes the sweetness dissipates and the lightly musk like vetiver graciously surrenders a peaceful and calming presence.

From the Twisted Lily website:

William Burroughs was the most experimental and avant-garde figure of the Beat Generation, the one who went furthest in developing the complexity of the novel. In his your he escaped through reading Oscar Wilde, and he went on to lead a bohemian lifestyle, delighting in extreme experiences. His first novel, Junky, describes the harsh reality of addiction. Jardins D’Ecrivains presents its new fragrance, which points to the analogous experience of olfactory addition.

Perfume has the power to take us to a higher plane and really influences our behavior. Perfume reveals something intimate to others but also to the person wearing it. This is a complex, unique fragrance.

There are three key phases in its development; the top notes include the subtlest hint of fresh hemp. The mysterious middle notes bring in the creamy scents of gardenia, iris and violet, which then mingle with the dry-wood base notes of cashmeran, cedar and cade, softened by the frankincense and sweet myrrh resins and the aroma of Javanese vetiver.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A head rush; you sniff it in and the tartness collects at the top of your nose and surges through your brain in a rush only to then leave your brain and head very happy and relaxed.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE JUNKY: unique, journeyed, different

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT JUNKY: CaFleureBon, Chemist in a Bottle, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE: I really like Junky. It’s as unique and as much of a wild ride that I have been on for some time with a fragrance. But the great thing about it is that it’s not a weird and strange being at all. It’s rather pretty, very unisex and in the end, easy to wear.

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Oriental Woody
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $110 for 100ml EdP

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary

April 29, 2014
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

New Discovery: Rosas Secas by Coqui Coqui Perfumes

When we were in Merida Mexico recently, one of our hosts at the small bed and breakfast were staying out walked out one afternoon surrounded by this incredible cloud of perfumed goodness. I asked him what he was wearing and he told me he was wearing a tobacco cologne by Coqui Coqui. A light went off in my head as I just then remembered that when we were in Tulum Mexico during the holidays, I read that there was a hotel there that had a perfumerie in it, but it was too far away so we didn’t go. I then recalled that there was one in Merida as well. I asked where it was and he said 3 blocks away around the corner! Enough said, I made a trip to the store the next day.

I told you how charming we found Merida to be, but I wasn’t expecting a little bit of European glamour in the heart of this colonial city. It was a hot afternoon and we made our way to this small store, that once you opened the doors, it was all old world charm. There were perfumes on the left, candles in middle, room atomizers and diffusers in one cabinet and soaps and other goodies throughout. And towards the back there was a small room with some apparel goods and even a place where you could get an espresso and some biscuits. I was in heaven. The lovely sales assistant, Wendy spoke very little English and we spoke very little Spanish, but we managed to communicate just fine. Of course, I had to make a purchase, so after so many wonderful choices, I settled on a bottle of Rosas Secas.

WHAT I SMELL: Rosas Secas opens with a sparkling bergamot that soon is met with an equally fresh and sparkling rose. Lurking behind the rose is a lightly herbed tobacco that give the fragrance a bit of spice. Rosas Secas is light and airy as it needs to be in order to work against the heat and sun of Mexico. The fragrance doesn’t morph much, but the rose does become a bit more grounded and dryer, yet still manages to stay in this radiated freshness.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A charming Mexican beauty.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ROSAS SECAS: happy, radiant, peaceful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ROSAS SECAS: Now Smell This, Eluxe Magazine

BOTTOM LINE: Rosas Secas is perfectly unisex and is just what’s needed on those hot, hot days of summer. Unfortunately, Coqui Coqui does not have a web shopping site, but I found that you could purchase some of their fragrances (not all) via Alder & Co. And if you do contact Coqui Coqui directly, they can provide you with an overview of their full line and can arrange shipping. I do wish that I could have traveled home with one of their massive diffusers. They were huge and probably weighed a good five pounds if not more…I may have to give them a call to see how much it would cost to ship! Please check out the Coqui Coqui website as you’ll see there’s a lot more they have to offer than perfumes!

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $98 for EdP via Alder & Co.

April 22, 2014
by The Scented Hound 21 Comments

New Release: Yin & Ylang by Sonoma Scent Studio

A little over a month ago I was reading on one of my favorite sites, CaFleureBon, that CaFleureBon editor Michelyn Camen and perfumer Laurie Erickson had teamed up to create a new perfume based on a concept developed by Michelyn. I knew that whatever these two created was going to be incredible and was even more excited to learn that the featured note was going to be my beloved ylang-ylang. You can read more about Michelyn’s and Laurie’s inspiration and their creative development process at CaFleureBon. As there was a draw as part of the announcement, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek sniff…but even better, it’s now available for sale!

WHAT I SMELL: Yin & Ylang opens with a snappy bergamot and semi sweet blood orange, but quickly moves into with this very lovely and deepened fruitiness which then becomes moves even deeper revealing this ultra creamy and über sexy ylang ylang. For an opening, this is surprising as it’s weighted with a layered sheen of wax which seems to pour up from the depths below. Jasmine and tuberose take a back seat to the ylang ylang, but sit on the side revealing themselves after around ten minutes as the fragrance begins to lighten after its initial seduction. As the fragrance lightens, a hint of soured light sharpness (sandalwood?) begins to make an appearance. However, given another twenty minutes and the fragrance looses any hint of sharpness and the creamy florals really begin to project off my skin. The fragrance then blends so fluently with the base notes creating this dreamy and slightly honeyed backdrop for the exquisite florals. I’m not sure what this says about me, but I find Yin & Ylang to be sensual, yet very comforting at the same time.

Fragrance Notes from the Sonoma Scent Studio website:

Bergamot, blood orange, soft aldehydes,beeswax absolute, ylang complete oil, jasmine sambac absolute, tuberose absolute, rose damascones, ginger CO2,Mysore sandalwood oil, oakmoss absolute, amber, patchouli,vanilla, musk.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: seduction

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE YIN & YLANG: glorious, enraptured, lush

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT YIN & YLANG: Now Smell This, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE: I had the pleasure of meeting Michelyn last fall at Sniffapalooza and she is lovely and charming in every way and she knows the perfume industry like few do. Knowing Michelyn, I knew upon hearing about this new creation that it would be a hit; and I was right. Sometimes great ideas and collaborations don’t always make for a good fit. In this case, Michelyn and Laurie have created a timeless beauty that starts off with a strong seduction and leaves you with a lasting love.

Bone Rating: 4.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $55 for 17ml or $100 for 34ml from the Sonoma Scent Studio website