eau de parfum | The Scented Hound

September 3, 2015
by The Scented Hound 14 Comments

Tubereuse by Caron

WHAT I SMELL: Tubereuse opens with a sweetened peach like, cinnamon peppered tuberose. It’s heady without having the thickened rubberized consistency you can sometimes find with the note. Instead, the tuberose is mentholated without being cloying or heavy. The fruit behind the tuberose is not rich, juicy or dominant. Instead, it’s as if it has been dried or dehydrated. As the perfume wears, a lovely powder blankets the composition along with the addition of a spiced jasmine. Tubereuse is not dirty at all and not indolic, but instead is a wash of exquisite powdered herbal and lightly mentholated floral highlighted by the tuberose that’s full of life, but tinged with bits of melancholy. Like all of the Caron parfum extraits, Tubereuse is slow to transform. After quite some time, the florals become sharpened and aloof, but they never are removed from the protected cover of the powder. And as more time passes, the mentholated herbal quality begins to meld gracefully into the floral mix as if a dance between the two has ended as one. Finally, in the end, the perfume softens to a gentle powdered swath of a floral dream.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Peach kissed tuberose.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE TUBEREUSE: sophisticated, self-assured, mature

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TUBEREUSE: The Black Narcissus, Bois de Jasmin, EauMG

BOTTOM LINE: Tubereuse is an underutilized perfume in my collection. It doesn’t get the attention from me that it deserves and every time I wear it I wonder why I don’t wear it more often. Maybe because its a bit formal and I have a penchant for wearing t-shirts and shorts. Whatever the reason, it’s a perfume that deserves more attention from me and others.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Richard Fraysse
Classification: Leans feminine
Expense: Review based on the parfum extrait version which can be purchased via the Phyto Universe Caron Boutique, NYC.

August 31, 2015
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

Byredo Gypsy Water

WHAT I SMELL: Gypsy Water opens with a glaze of lemon tinged juniper and pine, almost like that of Lemon Pledge, but with a sweeter vanilla finish which takes it from Lemon Pledge to more of a lemon custard. After a short time, the perfume begins to soften and them lemon becomes light and tart and slightly sour with addition of a quiet incense and wood. I was expecting Gypsy Water to be a lively and phrenetic fragrance, but instead, it’s rather subdued and unassuming. After around 20 minutes, the pine, amber and sandalwood come together to provide for a creamy, but lightly incensed powdered warmth. In the end, Gypsy Water is a lightly warmed quiet woody perfume, that although unassuming, is rather mysterious.

From the Byredo website:

GYPSY WATER IS A GLAMORIZATION OF THE ROMANY LIFESTYLE, BASED ON A FASCINATION WITH THE MYTH. THE SCENT OF FRESH SOIL, DEEP FORESTS AND CAMPFIRES EVOKES THE DREAM OF A FREE, COLORFUL LIFESTYLE CLOSE TO NATURE.

TOP: BERGAMOT, LEMON, PEPPER, JUNIPER BERRIES
HEART: INCENSE, PINE NEEDLES, ORRIS
BASE: AMBER, VANILLA, SANDALWOOD

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A warm breeze lilting through the forest.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE GYPSY WATER: quiet, comforting, peaceful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GYPSY WATER: Perfume Posse, What Men Should Smell Like, Katie Puckrik Smells

BOTTOM LINE: Gypsy Water doesn’t have a lot of projection, but is instead a really nice skin scent that is unique with its citrus and woody incense combination. It’s perfect for the office, or for those quiet days when you want to feel special just for yourself and no one else.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Woody Aromatic
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $145 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum

August 26, 2015
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

New Release: La Cologne de Rosine by Les Parfums de Rosine

WHAT I SMELL: La Cologne de Rosine opens up with a bright and fresh citrus that feels like it’s splashed with a refreshing tonic. In a few minutes, a bright clean rose and violet combo give the perfume a pretty persona. For being a pretty girl, the perfume has some pretty powerful projection, but there’s nothing heavy about La Cologne de Rosine because the “big” is as light as a feather. After some more time, a light musk and wood bring a clean and slightly “bathtastic” brush stroke of powder to the beaming florals which are warmed with the lightest of amber. In the end, La Cologne de Rosine is a pretty rose tinged with freesia that is lit with rays of sunshine.

From the Les Parfums de Rosine website:

Notes: Bergamot, Citrus, Tangerine, Rose Essence, Freesia, Violet, Cedar Wood, White Musk, Amber

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Large white fluffy cumulus clouds moving quickly across the backdrop of the bluest sky.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE LA COLOGNE DE ROSINE: uncomplicated, clean, easy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LA COLOGNE DE ROSINE: EauMG, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for a perfume that is clean with a floral radiance, La Cologne de Rosine is the perfect solution.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Leans feminine
Expense: 105 Euros for 100 ml Eau de Parfum available from the Les Parfums de Rosine website