Fabrice Pelligrin | The Scented Hound

WHAT I SMELL: Atacama opens with warmed saline infused earth that feels unmeasured in its vastness. It’s serene right from the beginning with just the perfect mix of dew and salt. Slowly, a mix of florals enters to add an additional measure of softness along with just a hint of caramel buttered creaminess. The perfume retains its salt of the earth feel as it begins to grow with an woodiness that can only be described as remnants left by a hard rain on the ocean mixed with the driftwood that has been swept up on the shore surrounded by flowers glistening in the sun. In the end, Atacama is soft and beautiful lightly salty and sweetened uniquely personal perfume.

From the Atlaia website:

True love waits: in South America lies Atacama, the highest desert on earth, a majestic extension of salt and sands which changes colour according to the seasons. Rain is scarce but it just takes a few drops to awaken the seeds which abide underground and turn it pink with flowers. A beautiful metaphor for Love patiently awaiting the kiss that kindles it.

Notes: Salt Grains, Freesia, Jasmine, Clary Sage, Tonka Bean, Cashmere Wood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Sun kissed pink salty sand that’s been touched by the rain.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ATACAMA: fresh, personal, infinite

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ATACAMA: Colognoisseur

BOTTOM LINE: Atacama is a hard perfume for me to put into words. It changes and morphs depending on the heat and humidity of the day. At times it gravitates towards the sea and the salt and at other times is moves towards the light florals. But in any shape or form, Atacama is a beautifully executed perfume that is easy to wear. And as an added bonus, the bottle and packaging are gorgeous.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Nose: Fabrice Pellegrin
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $230 for 100 ml eau de parfum at Beautyhabit.

Sample provided by Beautyhabit.

WHAT I SMELL: Geisha Vanilla Hinoki opens with a bright bergamot that’s soon met with an exotic blend of lightly sweetened spices; which then quickly moves to more of a sweet and sour spiciness. There is something that is rather familiar to me in the opening and the only thing that I can think of is Lemon Pledge without the full on “lemon.” But that soon dissipates and the perfume begins to soften, but I still can’t get out of my head this association of some kind of cleaning wipe, be it a much more subtle and softer one. After 10 minutes or so, a lightly sugared lavender comes to the forefront along with a bit of creaminess. The cleaning wipe is now gone and you now have this really soft and comforting perfume that is topped with a bit of sugar and spice and it’s oh so very nice. As the perfume continues to develop, it becomes more woody with lavender becoming more powdered and radiant. At this point, the perfume has a rather masculine barber shop vibe and it reminds me of the paper neck wrap that old school barbers put on you prior to cutting your hair. Geisha Vanilla Hinoki is all warm fuzzies to me at this point. As the perfume continues to develop, the barber shop association really takes hold and the perfume begins to grow and become slightly smoky. In the end, Geisha Vanilla Hinoki is all comfort. Very nice.

From the Aroma M website:

Vanilla scents tend to have a cloying, candied effect. But not Vanilla Hinoki. Its key ingredient is a woodsy, smoky vanilla found only in Morocco.

As for the other ingredients: They kick off with light and sparkling bergamot combined with spicy, wake-up clove, cardamom, and nutmeg. These segue into more soothing mid-notes: cedarleaf, soft bergamot, and lavender. And finally the lingering drydown: exotic, animalic leather; incense-like patchouli; tropical, evergreen amyris; and cleansing, envigorating cedarwood.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: An old school barber shop; very comfortable, easy and relaxing.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GEISHA VANILLA HINOKI: soothing, reassuring, retro

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GEISHA VANILLA HINOKI: CaFleureBon, The Non-Blonde, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE: Maybe you need to be a man from my generation when barber shops were where you got your hair cut, not Great Cuts. There was a very comfortable masculinity in the atmosphere that was laid back without any stress. You went in feeling a bit messy and you left feeling like a million bucks. Geisha Vanilla Hinoki brings back all the sensory aspects of this now fading business.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental Floral
Nose: Maria McElroy
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $90 for 50ml Eau de Parfum

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