The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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Jazmin Yucatan by D.S. & Durga

WHAT I SMELL:  Jazmin Yucatan opens with an aquatic tinged passion flower that’s a bit chewy and which quickly explodes into a rounded aquatic infused jasmine.  The perfume is big without being overwhelming and it’s clean and fresh with just a hint of jungle earthiness.  You can almost feel the sun-kissed jasmine being tossed by the warm winds pushing northward across the Yucatan Peninsula.  As the perfume slowly develops, an earthy vetiver creates a rattan like base for the jasmine to sit upon.  In the end, Jazmin Yucatan settles into a cottony fresh linen.  Jazmin Yucatan is quite linear, but that’s just fine, because it’s meant to be worn in the heat of the warm Mexican sun where it can lightly radiate its floral beauty.

From the D.S. & Durga website:

Jungle, humidity, snake plants, jazmín yucateco, crocodile by the cenote, shaded temple, limestone ruins. 

Top notes:  water, passion flower, bergamot

Heart notes:  jazmin yucateco, sambac, clove

Base notes:  snake plant, vetiver, copal

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Jasmine wafting amongst the Mayan temples dotting the landscape of the Yucatan Peninsula.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE JAZMIN YUCATAN: moistened, cottony, rounded

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT JAZMIN YUCATAN:  Colognoisseur, Notetaking

BOTTOM LINE:  Jazmin Yucatan does capture the earthy floral environment of the Yucatan peninsula and takes the heady jasmine and tames it nicely.  Groundbreaking, no.  Lovely, yes.

  • Bone Rating:  3 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral
  • Nose:  David Moltz
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense: Starting at $175 for 50 ml eau de parfum


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Boy Smells – Flor de la Virgen

WHAT I SMELL:  Flor de le Virgen opens with a soft sweetened pomelo that is quickly met with a lightly chewy jasmine.  From the first spritz, the perfume is bright and full of light and energy.  But as soon as the jasmine makes its presence, the citrus notes once again takes over.  I’m glad about this as the citrus keeps the perfume on the lighter side.  Well, as soon as write that, it seems that the jasmine wants to once again make itself known.  But this time the jasmine is softer, more demure and jubilantly pretty with just a brush of pencil shaving olibanum.  It’s here that the perfume seems to glide softly as it seems to ride a light breeze in the spring air.  After quite some time, the perfume sweetens some more and moves towards the bubblegum with an undercurrent of white musk.  In all, Flor de La Virgen is uncomplicated loveliness.

From the Boy Smells website:

FLOR DE LA VIRGEN is a bright and energetic combination of feminine jasmine petals and masculine musks, sitting in an abundant bouquet of pomelo, saffron, and deep resinous olibanum. Citrus, floral, and spice, this is a truly GENDERFUL™ scent made to unleash your inner god and goddess — transcend expectations and scent accordingly.

Top Notes: Pomelo, Lemon Rind, Fig Leaf

Mid Notes: Saffron, Jasmine Petals, Ivy Leaves

Dry Notes: Cistus, Olibanum, Labdanum, Clear Musks, Ambrox

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Flowers on the wind.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE FLOR DE LA VIRGEN:  soft, breezy, lighthearted

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FLOR DE LA VIRGEN:  Editorialist

BOTTOM LINE:  Flor de la Virgen is my first foray into the Boy Smell brand and I really liked my “virgin” experience.  The perfume is pretty, inoffensive and easy to wear.   I would say that Flor de la Virgen is one of those scents that could travel anywhere and be worn on any occasion, including in the office.  Who could ask for anything more from a perfume?

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Floral
  • Nose: Gil Clavien
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense:  Starting at $98 for 65ml cologne de parfum


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Fleur Japonais by Shalini

WHAT I SMELL:   Fleur Japonais opens with a soft milky magnolia that is quickly greeted by lilting cherry blossoms that are seemingly caressed by a light breeze.  The perfume is intoxicating in that it’s full of body, yet light in presence.  But there’s also a hidden strength in the blossoms in that their beauty is full of passion and power with the promise of rebirth.  As the perfume develops, the soft and beautiful florals even out in consistency creating for a blanket that’s silky smooth.  And along with that beautiful blanket is just the right amount of light incense that dreamily floats above the blossoms.  Here, Fleur Japonais feels as if it is creating a passage to an ancient Japanese temple.  In the end, a light powder with the incense and a soft sandalwood residing underneath, makes you feel as if you’re walking along a quiet path laden with freshly fallen pedals; pink above and pink below.  Beyond gorgeous.

From Shalini Parfum:

Fleur Japonais is inspired by the revered Cherry blossoms of Japan. The “Sakura” season is a celebration of life as the pink flowers embrace the temples of Kyoto.

The parfum is a heavenly composition of ephemeral Cherry blossoms, intoxicating Magnolia flowers, Frankincense, Labdanum and Sandalwood.

Fleur Japonais reaches for the heavens as the pink flowers merge with the ethereal smoke from the woods and resins.

In Japanese culture there is an association between the Sakura and the Samurai – the flower and the man. They are both admired for their fleeting beautiful lives. It is believed that the soul of the Samurai lives in the Sakura.

Clouds of pink caressing your face. The delicate fragrance of Cherry blossoms scents the air. The temple bells chime softly as the soft scent of the fragrance floats like pink petals caressing the earth.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Dreaming in a sea of pink.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE FLEUR JAPONAIS:  soft, serene, spiritual

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FLEUR JAPONAIS:  Colognoisseur, The Plum Girl

BOTTOM LINE:  Simply put, Fleur Japonais isn’t a perfume that is mean to shock, surprise or jolt you with twists and turns.  Instead, it’s quiet beauty just takes you in without force and leads you softly to the most sacred of place within your soul.

  • Bone Rating: 5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Floral
  • Nose:  Maurice Roucel
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: Cubique glass bottle with the glass stopper $500 for 50 ml, Cubique glass bottle with black bulb atomizer $500 for 50 ml,  Small spray bottle $150 for 7.5 ml.  Byzantine glass flacon $1,100 for 100 ml.  White Lacquer and Gold Plated Travel Spray, $415 for 12.5 ml.  All parfum extrait.