The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Tag Archives: amber


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Querelle – Parfumerie Generale Private Collection

The opening of Querelle is really lovely and very understated.  So understated that I almost felt like I had to bathe in the scent to get it to stick to my skin.  Funny, it’s not until this is worn for a while that the scent actually comes to the surface.  But let’s get back to the opening… Querelle opens with a mild citrus and black pepper spice.  This would be considered a vetiver scent, but a vetiver without screaming “I am green!”.  The citrus disappears quickly and you are left with a dryness which pushes out a mild incense.  The incense, pepper and a bit of amber keep this fragrance in a place where few others go.  What I mean is that at times it feels like a remote and distant scent, but at other times, it swirls around up to your nostrils with an engaging warmth.  And every time you lift your wrists, you’ll note that you smell something a bit different.  I really like fragrances that take you on a journey.  Querelle is a different scent for me and I’m surprised that it falls into my lane of liking it.  This scent feels masculine to me, but it is considered unisex.  It hugs close to the skin, but had great longevity.  I will be visiting this scent again!

Querelle Notes:  citrus, Iranian black caraway, myrrh, cinnamon, Haitian vetiver, incense, oakmoss, ambergris

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Spicy Oriental
  • Classification: Unisex, but leans masculine
  • Expense: $100 for 50ml EDP


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The Library Collection – Opus VI by Amouage

I really hate it when fragrances don’t mix well with your body chemistry.  Well, that’s what I am assuming since I have read some really lovely reviews of Opus VI.  On me, well, lovely has a sour side.  I have sampled this fragrance a couple of times and each time the same thing happens.

The promise of Opus VI’s opening is one of a beautiful invitation.  It goes on warm, but light.  There’s a rich buttery note that sits at the top.  So pretty and inviting.  I love ambers and they typically love me.

Well, after the first 2 minutes of that lovely opening, the dark side of this scent comes out.  Metal.  A metal component that is sharp and sour soon takes over. It’s still warm however and a mellow wood accentuates the base.  But I still can’t get past that metallic edge.  Nasomatto’s Pardon did the same thing on me.  However, the Opus VI metallics aren’t nearly as strong as Pardon’s were.  I was looking at both sets of ingredients to see if there was something similar that could be making this happen.  The only ingredient I found the same was sandalwood which normally would not create such a sensation on me.  The mystery continues.

I really can’t say anything more.  Once the metal smell takes over I can’t get past the other elements of the fragrance.  This really makes me sad, considering yesterday I was in love with my Parfum d’Empire scents.

Opus VI Notes:

Sichuan Pepper, Frankincense, St Thomas Bay, Periploca, Cypriol, Patchouli, Ambranum, Z11, Sandalwood, Cistus.

  • Bone Rating: 2 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Spicy Oriental
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $325 for 100ml EDP


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Amber Oud by By Kilian

Oh my, an amber that didn’t work for me.  I have heard nothing but rave reviews about Amber Oud…but again, oh my.  First Amber Oud goes on sharp, it has a strong bite.  It’s the oud mixed with the bay leaves I am guessing.  I read from other reviews that this fragrance is sweet.  I’m not getting any sweetness whatsoever.  I was hoping that the vanilla would pop out to even out the sharpness of the scent.  It materializes slightly, but never to the point of cutting that edge.  After a bit, the sharpness dissipates and the scent retreats close to the skin.  That’s fine, but all day long all that I was smelling was a sour note.  And not even the amber warmed this for me.  I am truly disappointed, but I will be giving this one another chance.  Maybe it’s just my body chemistry! 😦

Amber Oud Notes:

Amber, oud, bay leaf, cedarwood, vanilla

  • Bone Rating: 2 out of 5 possible bones
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $395 for 50ml EDP