Cuir Velours
WHAT I SMELL: The initial opening of Cuir Velours is cool and slightly astringent, but this lasts for a microsecond before it moves into a boozy rum and almost chocolately suede. It’s ever so sweet and gourmand and to me it feels like a layer of brown sugar on top of a really fine layer of suede. I love this phase, it’s completely yummy. After a bit, a light incense comes forth which pares down the light sugar. At this point Cuir Velours becomes ethereal and translucent like a light sheen of leather floating in the air. In the final drydown, Cuirs Velours gets a bit sweeter in an almost fruited way, like sniffing a full-bodied fruity red wine. Unfortunately, Cuir Velours disappears all too quickly on my skin and that’s a shame.
From the Naomi Goodsir website:
A deep & textured perfume, that evocatively encases the skin like soft velvet suede. A tobacco atmosphere supported by notes of rum, cistus labdanum, incense & fleur d’immortelle.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The prettiest pony.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE CUIR VELOURS: soft, sugared, comfy
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CUIR VELOURS: Persolaise, Smellythoughts, Perfumeniche.com
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Leather
- Nose: Julian Rasquinet
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $150 for 50ml EdP
Bois d’Ascese
WHAT I SMELL: Bois d’Ascese opens smelling like wet burnt campfire wood. There is just a hint of cinnamon and whiskey to give it a bit more rounded sensation. Bois d’Ascese doesn’t transform much. The smoky incense dominates and pushes everything else to the back. To me, this needs a little more whiskey and cinnamon and less smoke. Most surprising to me though, in the end I found this very much to be a comfort scent.
From the Naomi Goodsir website:
A captivating & reassuring smoke. Notes of tobacco & whisky, are supported by cinnamon, amber & cistus labdanum. Oakmoss, smoked cade wood, almost burnt, prolong the incense of Somalia with power & elegance
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A KOA campground circa 1968.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE BOIS D’ASCESE: smoky, linear, woodsy
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BOIS D’ASCESE: Now Smell This, Sorcery of Scent, The Scentualist
- Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Incense Woodsy
- Nose: Julian Rasquinet
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $150 for 50ml EdP
BOTTOM LINE: I had not heard of Naomi Goodsir prior to Freddie from Smellythoughts providing me with these samples. Both of these fragrances are very unique in their own way and their quality in composition makes me curious about the 3rd offering this house is launching, Nuit de Bakelite, which the Naomi Goodsir website says is coming soon. BTW, the website and the packaging are par excellence.
The Scented Hound 