WHAT I SMELL: Amelia sweeps quietly in the room as not to make a noticeable announcement of her arrival with a soft, warm muted osmanthus and the quietest neroli. Soon, the softest of florals enter with rose as the lead, along with just a bit of soap, still ever so faintly but with a warm heart. There’s something wonderfully radiating about the perfume, but in the most serene of manner. And Amelia doesn’t develop as much as it blends. It moves with quiet steps that make the notes indistinguishable as they’re so wonderfully fused together in veil of floral beauty. Amelia is a comfort scent that doesn’t feel as if it needs to please anyone, but with it brings a warm character of incredible grace and a gentle demeanor.
From the Grossmith website:
This feminine scent was created in honour of Amelia Brooke, Simon’s great grandmother, who was the key to his discovery of the lost perfume house. Amelia’s father was the founder, John Grossmith.
Amelia is a soft and elegant chypre which opens with enticing notes of neroli and osmanthus, and develops into a smooth floral heart of rose, peony and jasmine, supported by warm amber. Patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver and cashmere musks form the long-lasting and rounded base.
Top notes – neroli, osmanthus; Heart notes – rose, jasmine, peony, amber; Base notes – patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, cashmere musks
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Little Women’s Marmee – a beautiful heart.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE AMELIA: soft, quiet, understated
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT AMELIA: CaFleureBon
BOTTOM LINE: Amelia is a hard perfume to describe because it’s blended so seamlessly and is so incredibly muted. But as a soft floral that is so quiet and beautiful it surprisingly leaves a long lasting impression as it stays on the skin for a long time with a gentle whisper.
- Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Chypre Floral
- Nose: Trevor Nicholl
- Classification: Feminine
- Expense: Approximately $310 for 50 ml eau de parfum. Also available in 100 ml.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Happy and perfectly content.
WHAT I SMELL: Ma Griffe opens with bright aldehydes followed by a mix of florals that turn surprisingly green. There’s an undercurrent of rapturous warmth that sits below the florals that makes the perfume heady and full-bodied in a rather provocative manner. Ma Griffe is not shy in the least and as it goes on she tells you exactly who she is right from the beginning. As the perfume continues to develop, there’s a note or combination of notes that reminds me of slightly worn silk undergarments. It’s a mix of perfume, powder and just a hint of light sweat gained from normal daily activity. As such, this makes Ma Griffe a veritible seductress. As the perfume continues to morph, the florals begin to deepen with tonka bean taking root along side a drying oak moss. Here, Ma Griffe is fully in charge and makes it known that she is all woman and doesn’t mind if you call her a dame.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The unapologetic user of men; Barbara Stanwyck in the pre-code classic movie “Babyface.”
The Scented Hound 