EDP | The Scented Hound

June 8, 2015
by The Scented Hound 13 Comments

Iniezione di Morfina by Peccato Originale

WHAT I SMELL: Iniezione di Morfina (Injection of Morphine) opens up light and ethereal, yet somehow deep in floral warmth. It’s full-bodied, but very close to the skin in the beginning and the mysterious florals are blended with the lightest of vanilla. After five minutes, the scent feels like it’s fading from my skin; it’s there, but the projection is so muted and subtle. There is something completely intoxicating about the perfume as it wraps it light tendrils around me as it begins to grow. It’ also quite sexy without being overtly so. After 10 minutes, the projection is still close to the skin, but a light soapiness reveals itself, but like the rest of the creation, it too is muted. Soon the soap exits and a powder enters. That, combined with a floral sweetness dries out the perfume. I find Iniezione di Morfina intoxicating and strangely hypnotic. After 30 minutes, the perfume introduces a light puttiness that wraps itself around the florals. After some more time, the vanilla and labdanum come to the front to blanket you in their morphine inspired lullaby.

From the Peccato Originale (Original Sin) website:

L’Elisir based Opium is the source of inspiration. Paracelsus called it Laudanum which means praise. Established quickly addictive and habit forming. Charismatic and enterprising. A debut with white and delicate Jasmine and Lily of the Valley from which bloom Rose Petals and a touch of Iris. The bouquet clear and elegant finishes in White Musk and sensual vanilla.

Notes: Iris, Rose, Jasmin, Lily of the Valley, White Musk, Vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A Victorian angel.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE INIEZIONE DI MORFINA: unique, intriguing, genuine

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT INIEZIONE DI MORFINA: CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE: I have not been intrigued by a perfume in a long time. The opening with this perfume is like a dream and I wish it would have stayed in that realm through its entire life. The drydown is comforting, but makes me long for the top notes. This may be a full bottle for me, but I think I need a few more sample injections before I commit to this incredible morphine.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Silvia Monti
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $155 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum, exclusively available at Twisted Lily in the U.S.

April 27, 2015
by The Scented Hound 13 Comments

Maria Candida Gentile Syconium

WHAT I SMELL: Syconium opens with a lightly warm and slightly creamy milk and honeyed fig. The perfume is so lovely transparent that it invites you to breathe in the airy, but juicy aroma. Fig can greatly overpower a perfume, but so far, what you get here is this gauze like film of a fig that hovers over this sheer honey accord. It’s almost like walking outside and getting a whiff of a beautiful scent that wisps past your nose, but you look for the source but can’t find where it’s coming from, it just floats along in the air. After around 10 minutes, the perfume becomes a bit more waxy which gives it slightly more depth, but it continues to remain light and radiant. After another 10 minutes, the fragrance begins to project with a warmed sandalwood which beefs up the waxy and lightly sugared fig. The fig in this perfume feels very natural and not manufactured which makes it that much more inviting. The fragrance doesn’t morph as much as it builds and in the end your left with the most lush, milky and creamy fig that’s warm, soothing and comforting.

From the Maria Candida Gentile website:

Syconium is the ripening of the fig, the best expression of what nature has to offer in the form of fruit, the richness of the flavour and of the perfume that are brought to us by a tree close to us since the earliest times. The pulp but also the milk, the peel, the scorching sun and the shadow of the great leaves.

Top notes: Honey, Milk

Heart notes: Fig

Base notes: Java Sandal Wood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The prettiest balcony garden with the wafting scent of the fig coming from below. It’s like your own special private secret garden; so safe and secure.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE SYCONIUM: milky, peaceful, comforting

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SYCONIUM: Ye Olde Civet Cat

BOTTOM LINE: Syconium is one of three perfumes in the Maria Candida Gentile “Flight of the Bumblebee Collection”, along with Kitrea and Leuco. All of the creations in this collection are wonderful, but this dreamy fig creation is my favorite of the three and perfect for the coming long hot summer months.

Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Beeswax
Nose: Maria Candida Gentile
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $185 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum; but also available for $45 for the 15 ml travel size (thank you MCG for offering these smaller sizes with your perfumes!)

April 23, 2015
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

Dame Perfumery Desert Rose

WHAT I SMELL: Desert Rose opens with a soft and delicate peach which is quickly met with a non-sweetened citrus; add to this the fact that it’s airy and semi-bright. As it develops the perfume gains some body with an ambered base. However, even with this body, this is one of the lightest and ethereal perfumes I have worn in a long time. And that’s a good thing. Sometimes rose scents when added to the heat of the summer sun can overwhelm, but with this light composition you won’t have to worry about that. Before I get too ahead of myself, the pretty Damascenia rose begins to make its way to the front. It’s floral sweet and not candied sweet and it has a sparkling and vibrant finish to it. The peach remains, but a lovely soft vanilla joins in to give the perfume a more rounded finish as well as creating this silky smoothness. The perfume then moves away from being ethereal, yet it never reaches to the point of being too large. It instead remains vanilla sweetened and silky soft and smooth (and just a tad spicy)…almost like a rose flavored egg cream.

From the Dame Perfumery website:

The composition is a blend of Turkish rose otto and Damascenia Rose with touches of peach, Sicilian lemon, Egyptian jasmine, geranium, carnation, heliotrope, sandalwood, musk, amber and vanilla.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: How can I resist… Sting’s Desert Rose. The perfume and the song go hand in hand, pretty, ethereal, exotic and dreamily lovely.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE DESERT ROSE: bright, peach-kissed, dreamy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DESERT ROSE: Scent of Abricots

BOTTOM LINE: I’m not a huge fan of peach notes in a perfume, but here its nicely infused with the rose. If you’re looking for something pretty and dreamy, Desert Rose would make for a nice addition to your summer scent wardrobe… and you can’t beat the price! But with Damascenia rose, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so don’t over spray to ensure that the desert rose doesn’t become a desert dragon!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $65 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum from the Dame Perfumery website

Sample courtesy of Dame Perfumery.