floral oriental | The Scented Hound

WHAT I SMELL: The Decay of the Angel opens on the skin with soft and creamy mandarin and neroli, that quickly becomes contained in a mentholated tent of a indolic jasmine. The perfume’s florals are rich and thick and they feel like they’re full of syrup that coats the skin. The perfume is incredibly unique, absolutely stunning and mind numbing when breathed in. After a short while, the syrupy thickness begins to melt away, but the mentholated florals remain with a softened tone. After a bit, a light suede settles in under the florals as they continue to thin and the perfume continues to radiate, but with a softer intensity. After a short while longer, a light plastic ebbs in, like the smell of a fleshy band-aid. It’s not a bad smell, but mixed with the florals it’s interestingly unique. In the end, the labdanum is the star, giving the perfume a warmed and comforting musk that lingers with the remains of the ghost like florals.

From the Timothy Han Edition Perfumes website:

A rich and exotic burnt floral fragrance with a subtle headiness that comes from desire infused by flowers on the wane. Inspired by Yukio Mishima’s 1971 novel of the same name, these are the final longings of a descending angel.

Top: Mandarin, Neroli, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense

Heart: Sambac Jasmin, Acacia, Cade

Base: Oudh, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Tonka, Labdanum

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A dilapidated French château. Once full of life with beautiful gardens it’s now a reflection of it’s former self.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL: haunting, introspective, unique

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL: None to be found.

BOTTOM LINE: I love this perfume. It’s achingly beautiful in a otherworldly way. Sometimes perfumes speak to the soul. In this case The Decay of the Angel does to mine.

Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Oriental
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $180 for 60 ml eau de parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary.

WHAT I SMELL: Floriental opens cool to the skin, but warm to the nose with a comforting labdanum and a light and airy incense which is rounded and full-bodied without being heavy. Soon a subdued plum note enters along with an earthiness that keeps the fruit grounded, but the fragrance is pleasingly lightly gourmand at this stage. After a bit, a creamy sandalwood enters the mix along with a lightly sweetened tobacco. Floriental is a comfort perfume in that it’s light smoky radiance is like a transitional sweater taking you from the warm summer months to the cool of the fall. In the end, Floriental exists in a lightly boozy, incensed sandalwood haze.

From the Comme des Garcons Parfums website:

Floriental is a disrupted floral fragrance that challenges the traditions of perfumery to reimagine a flower that has no scent.
A creative collision that blurs the lines between the floral and the oriental to create something completely new.
An odourless flower is given life, a virtual scent imagined: enigmatic, contrasted, intense.

Labdanum, lavish sandalwood, vetiver, incense, pink pepper and plum liqueur.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A rain-soaked fall day when you enjoy a quiet walk through the colored leaves.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE FLORIENTAL: introspective, calming, quiet

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FLORIENTAL: Katie Puckrick Smells

BOTTOM LINE: Now that it’s getting cooler outside, I should be excited about switching gears toward wearing some fantastic cooler weather fragrances. However, I could easily live in a climate where it was summer all year-long and where I could just remain smelling of white flowers. Unfortunately that’s not the case…but a fragrance like Floriental is a welcomed gentle push into the cooler months making for an easy seasonal transition without effort.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Oriental
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $103 for 50 ml eau de parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary