5 bones | The Scented Hound

April 30, 2012
by The Scented Hound 4 Comments

Musc Ravageur by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

So what’s all the fuss about? Musc Ravageur is a fragrance that evokes the either “I love it” or “I hate it” responses by those who have tried it. It’s also one of those fragrances that have been described as dirty, sexy, sensual (and many other things in which I won’t go into detail). Of course, given the discourse and the descriptors I too had to give this a try. And I can see what everybody is talking about. The first thing that comes to mind when I put this on is the phrase “plastics are the wave of the future!” There is truly an artificial plastic petroleum aspect to this scent. It’s heavy and it’s a heaviness that fills up your lungs. Musc Ravageur starts with a bitch slap to the senses. It’s moist and musky with hints of vanilla. As the slow dry down takes place, out comes more of a warmed peppered base. It mellows ever so slightly but not enough to take away it’s oomph. I would have a hard time seeing a woman pull this one off, because I think of this really as a man’s fragrance because of its heaviness. In going back and reading what I have written so far, you would think that I don’t like this. Wrong. I love it. It’s a fragrance that gives you power. There is nothing shy about Musc Ravageur, so much so that this may have to go on my wish list for a full bottle.

From the Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle website:

Sensual and sophisticated. Powerful yet perfectly controlled. Dramatic and mysterious. MUSC RAVAGEUR is a grown-up perfume, an uncompromising Oriental, which trumps current fads. Its explosive departure of bergamot, tangerine and cinnamon is set against a lusty backdrop of vanilla, musk and amber. No flowers, just a refined and exalted skin scent.

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent Type: Oriental
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $165 for 50ml EDP

April 23, 2012
by The Scented Hound 17 Comments

Incense Oud by By Kilian

If you look at my past reviews of By Kilian fragrances they are rather lukewarm. I approach my reviews solely on what my own likes and preferences are which means that I rate and provide comments on what I like personally. Given that, I guess I hadn’t sampled the right By Kilian fragrances for my tastes. I had the opportunity to sample and test some of the other fragrances in the line the other day at Saks Fifth Avenue when I had the opportunity to interview Kilian Hennessy himself as he was promoting his new “Asian Tales” collection.

Well, I fell in love, and fell in love hard with Incense Oud. Sometimes love is hard to define and I find that it is one of those scents that is hard to describe. When first applied you are met with what I would describe as a lightly green spicy blend which quickly turns over to a nice and mild oaky smokiness which remains throughout. Incense Oud is warm and slightly woody. It is a scent that envelops and wraps itself around you in the most luxurious of ways. Incense Oud is a very personal scent, when you wear it, you feel like it was specifically made for you. It sits close to the skin and provides you with a layer of comfort. I have to say that this is easily the most elegant of scents. It’s perfect for the evening and yet it was perfect for me when I went to the grocery store in a sweatshirt and khakis yesterday in the rain!

I’m happy to say that Incense Oud is now part of my permanent collection and I was lucky enough to have Kilian himself sign my bottle. Besides my love for the scent, the packaging is beyond elegant, both the bottle and the lock box which it resides in. Yes, I’m in love.

From the By Kilian website:

INCENSE OUD is built on the duality of two primeval scents – incense and oud.

Incense, largely considered a mystic perfume, is layered with oud, rose, cardamom and labdanum,creating a fragrance that is both mysteriously warm and stunningly modern.

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent Type: Oriental – Spicy
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $395 for 50ml EDP

April 1, 2012
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

Ambra Nobile by Nobile 1942

Sometimes I like to gamble. Not gamble in the Las Vegas sense, but I sometimes will make a purchase sight unseen. I took a gamble with Ambra Nobile because at present Luckyscent has the marked down by 35%. So knowing my love of ambers I took a chance. I couldn’t be any happier. Ambra Nobile is a sophisticated, warm and lovely fragrance. When I applied this for the first time, I was a bit worried. It went on a bit sharp and had almost a putty smell that came to the surface? Where was the amber that I so wanted? After a bit, the sharp citrus smell retreated and the mix of the other ingredients came together along with a light spice. Finally, the vetiver and sandalwood came through and mixed with the amber. The combination in the end makes for a modern twist to a very old-time scent. Ambra Nobile is considered a unisex fragrance and would satisfy both sexes easily. But for me and probably for most men, this scent will derive memories of barbershops of past. Ambra Nobile would be fine for day and evening wear. It’s warmth, like many ambers, is enveloping and a spritz on my hand is perfect for satisfying my sniffing needs throughout the day. I am a happy hound with my latest purchase!

From the Nobile 1942 website:

Ambra Nobile evokes “nights for happy lovers are bright and brief” inebriated by the perfume of amber aphrodisiac, combined with the warm, citrusy, notes of labdanum resin, the notes of liquorice Helichrysum, Whose leaves shine like gold in the sun (“golden leaf “), the” manly “tobacco hints of the Tonka bean, and a slight, delicate sandalwood finish as the calm after the storm olfactory.

Ambra Nobile Notes:

Neroli, Bergamot, Ambergris, Labdanum, Patchouly, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Vetiver