EDT | The Scented Hound

November 18, 2013
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

Herod by Parfums de Marly

WHAT I SMELL: Herod opens with a mere second of sweet cherry pipe tobacco then quickly moves into a layer of cinnamon and sugar. We used to put sugar and cinnamon on warm buttered toast as a child and it kind of smells like that. Then after a few minutes more. the fragrance gets drier and more woody. Still yet, a warmed rum note sits in play, but its not heavy and thick but instead is more creamy and contained. From everything that I am smelling, I would kind of expect this to be big and loud, but so far, it’s holding back which is a very pleasant surprise. At around the ten minute mark, the tobacco note begins to come back. It’s nice and mellow and kind of cherry sweet, but it’s a muted sweet. At 15 minutes, I’m still waiting for a bang, but it never seems to come. And in the end, Herod stays in this very controlled state of lovely lightly vanilla’d sweetened woody tobacco bliss that dries with age.

Herod notes from the Parfums de Marly website:

Head notes: cinnamon, pepperwood

Heart notes: osmanthus, tobacco leaves, frankincense, ciste

Base Notes: vanilla pods, woody accord (cedar wood, vetiver, patchouli, ISO E Super), cypriol, musk

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Walking by the library of a very old and established men’s club and getting a whiff of the fine tobacco mixed with the old wooden paneling and floors.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE HEROD: restrained, comfortable, assured

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HEROD: Chemist in a Bottle

BOTTOM LINE: Herod is what I think a good Tom Ford should smell like. Classic, classy, restrained and not over the top. This was my first testing of a Parfums de Marly fragrance. If this is typical of their other offerings, I need to sample more!

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Woody Spicy
Nose: Olivier Pescheux
Classification: Unisex – leans a bit masculine
Expense: $275 for 125ml EdT

November 2, 2013
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

John Russo Photograph for Men

WHAT I SMELL: Photograph for Men has a sparkling and zesty citrus opening which is energetic without being sweet . Funny, after a couple of minutes the fragrance seems to dissipate and it almost disappears. I’m thinking to myself… really? Is this it? All I get is a lightly fresh and sweet layer that smells good, but there’s not much there. After around 10 minutes or so, Photograph for Men starts to reveal its true self as it begins to bloom with more spice and hints of lavender. After some more time, the fragrance becomes richer and warmer with a light amber. This is no powerhouse scent, but it’s clean, neat, and somewhat spicy which gives it a bit of oomph. And for an eau de toilette, the development of the fragrance is remarkably lengthy and three-dimensional.

From the John Russo Fragrances website:

Photograph for Men is an ambery, earthy, green, woody type with top notes of mandarin, orange, bergamot, lemon, and bay oil, middle notes of lavender, ginger, leather, and clove, with an amber, woody musky smoky, tobacco note.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: John Russo is trying to capture the essence and glamour of old Hollywood. The picture on the box cover conveys the fragrance’s character very well.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PHOTOGRAPH FOR MEN: smooth, effortless, put-together

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPH FOR MEN: Photograph for Men is so new that I only found one review on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: Not quite a celebrity fragrance, but bordering on so as John Russo is a famed celebrity photographer, I was a bit skeptical as to what to expect. But Photograph for Men is well put together and a very pleasant surprise overall. Nicely done.

Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Aromatic
Classification: Masculine
Expense: $65 for 100ml EdT; available from the John Russo Fragrances website

Disclosure: Product for review provided courtesy of John Russo Fragrances.

October 5, 2013
by The Scented Hound 18 Comments

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme

WHAT I SMELL: Bottega Veneta Pour Homme goes on with a blast of bergamot that is slightly citrus sweet, but then quickly turns towards a peppered layer that’s somewhat woody. In a flash, the fir makes the entrance bringing in a pretty heft layer of forest. After about 10 minutes the leather starts to make a very subtle presence and mixed with the labdanum it gives the fragrance almost an ambered hue. What I appreciate about this fragrance is that the leather never overtakes the scent, but rather adds just a thin veneer to give it more of a leather finish.

From the Bottega Veneta website:

Bottega Veneta Pour Homme is a fresh, intriguing and understated fragrance, one where distinctive Bottega Veneta notes of precious Labdanum, Fir Balsam and Bergamot blend into a sensuous leathery signature with the power to enchant. Woven with rare and noble materials, the fragrance, a woody, aromatic leathery scent, takes us on an inspiring journey in time and place.

Notes include: The notes include bergamot, pine, juniper berry, Jamaican pimento, fir balsam, sage, patchouli, and leather.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Classic ease bumped up with a dash of peppered sexy.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE BOTTEGA VENETA POUR HOMME: warm, peppery, easy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BOTTEGA VENETA POUR HOMME: D’Marge, Out.com

BOTTOM LINE: For a mainstream fragrance, Bottega Veneta Pour Homme hits the mark. It’s very much a classic men’s scent that is neither loud, obnoxious or offensive. And there’s just enough of an edge on the classic to make this interesting for both younger and older gentlemen alike.

Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Aromatic Leather
Noses: Daniela Andrier and Antoine Maisondieu
Classification: Masculine
Expense: $80 for 50ml EdT