eau de parfum | The Scented Hound

May 18, 2016
by The Scented Hound 18 Comments

New Release: Mugler Angel Muse

WHAT I SMELL: Angel Muse goes on the skin all sweet, nutty and über creamy; it lies on your skin as if was applied like butter to toast. The perfume is sweet, but not sugary; instead it’s more gourmand. As the perfume develops, that creamy nutty buttery concoction moves to the less creamy, but the projection begins to grow and with it the patchouli comes front and center with a pulsating rhythm of brown sugar and vetiver which helps to keep the perfume from going full on sweet. As it continues to develop, a tonka and vanilla note comes forward which helps to give the perfume some needed depth. In the end, the perfume resides in a warmed cocoon of semi sweet-comfort and ultimately after many hours, Angel Muse ends up feeling like a comfy musky vanilla pillow. But best of all Angel Muse is a bright and happy scent and that’s sure to make you smile.

From the Mugler website:

Tantalizing. Delicious. Supremely feminine. Discover ANGEL Muse, the new addictive fragrance you will #HateToLove…. Cosmic explosions collide with magnetic attraction to create an irresistible Eau de Parfum never experienced before. Get ready to lose your mind! Fragrance notes: Grapefruit, Pink Peppercorn, Hazelnut Cream, Vetiver, Patchouli.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Full House, early ’90s.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ANGEL MUSE: big, noticeable, energized

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ANGEL MUSE: Musings of a Muse, My Life Along the Lishops, Complexions Beauty Blog

BOTTOM LINE: There’s something very nostalgic and comforting about Angel Muse. Like a throwback in time, the perfume is big and bold and fits like a well-worn sweatshirt or sweater.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental Vanilla
Nose: Quentin Bisch
Classification: Leans feminine and young
Expense: $70 for 1 oz. Eau de Parfum

April 14, 2016
by The Scented Hound Leave a comment

Lalique Pour Homme Faune

WHAT I SMELL: Faune’s opening is sweet with a sugared bergamot and lavender in addition to a minty green, almost toothpaste freshness. There’s also a light spice, mixed with the soapy lavender. The projection is big and bright and it sparkles with a beautiful sweetened herbal radiance. As the perfume develops, the brightness calms and becomes dryer and more woody. Still radiant, the early sparkles retires to a classic patchouli and lavender, with hints of lightly creamed vanilla.

Top notes are coriander, lavender, mandarin orange, juniper and bergamot; middle notes are pepper, anise and geranium; base notes are sandalwood, amber, patchouli, musk, vanilla, oakmoss and cedar.

1920’s Australian mugshot

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A well-groomed 1920’s mobster…looking good and smelling good.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE FAUNE: jaunty, fresh, approachable

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FAUNE: None to be found, except for comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: Faune is a no-nonsense, easy to wear, clean and fresh perfume for men that could be worn on any occasion. It’s light enough to wear to work, but it would also work well for a night on the town. Faune is perfect when you don’t want to overthink what your perfume choice of the day should be.

Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Aromatic Fougere
Nose: Philippe Romano
Classification: Masculine leaning towards unisex
Expense: Varies. Review based on the Eau de Parfum version.

April 11, 2016
by The Scented Hound 17 Comments

Still Life in Rio by Olfactive Studio

WHAT I SMELL: Still Life in Rio opens up like a basket of minty, citrus freshness. It’s delightful and feels incredibly bountiful. Quickly, the fresh moves to a more tropical with a creamy and buttery coconut taking over as if swathed with a butter knife over the perfume. The perfume is thickened without being heavy and it feels like it has been baked by the hot sun which pulls out a rather sweaty and salty element. At this point, the perfume is very subtle and unobtrusive and without a great deal of projection, so it feels as if it’s part of the sweat of your body. Slow to develop, after some time, a light rum note is added to the tropical coconut. The perfume then gracefully completes its journey very quietly, as if the tropical salty sweat of the day is like a lingering memory of the perfect day in Rio.

From the Olfactive Studio website:

Exotic and luminous, Still Life in Rio is a new and unique scent that opens with yuzu, ginger, mint and lemon essence. It blossoms and heats up with a blend of peppers, Jamaican hot peppers and coconut water, finishing with rum and Brazilian Copaiba essences.

TOP NOTES: Yuzu, ginger, mint, lemon, mandarin

HEART NOTES: Jamaican hot peppers, pink pepper, black pepper, coconut water

BASE NOTES: Rum, Brazilian Copaiba, Accord of White Leather

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The concept behind the brand:

“OLFACTIVE STUDIO IS AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN CONTEMPORARY ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY AND PERFUMERY; BETWEEN THE EYE AND THE NOSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER THAT PERFUMERS HAVE TEAMED UP WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THEIR OEUVRES. THEY SENSE THE IMAGES TO CAPTURE THEIR ESSENCE.”

This is an inspiration that I can feel akin to as my reviews always accommodate my association with a visual. I’m not going to mess with adding any additional visual to the perfume, so I’ll stick with the actual inspiration, the photograph Still Life in Rio by Flávio Veloso.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE STILL LIFE IN RIO: calming, tropical, easy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT STILL LIFE IN RIO: Chemist in the Bottle, CaFleureBon, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE: There’s something about the perfume that is just so incredibly easy. When you wear it, you don’t feel like there’s a need to rush or be in a hurry. The visual inspiration is stunning and you can just imagine how wonderful looking over this city in all it’s beauty could be on a hot, humid and steamy morning.

Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Aromatic
Nose: Dora Baghriche
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $195 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary. Opinion my own.