The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Tag Archives: floral


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Lilac Extrait by Roja Parfums

RojaLilacExtraitWHAT I SMELL:  Lilac Extrait has a warm and enveloping opening with a quick dash of bergamot followed by this lovely peachy tinged floral which proves to be rather demure.  It’s hard to single out any one note as they all float ethereally in this radiant haze above the skin.  After around 15 minutes the soft and lovely lilac builds into this green and powdery bouquet of pure heaven.  After the 30 minute mark, Lilac Extrait really begins to project, although it’s not a shouter, and what  you’re left with is this cozy warm blanket of lilac comfort.

The Roja Parfumes website describes Lilac Extrait as “heady sweet freshness”

Lilac Extrait Notes:

TOP:  Bergamot
HEART:  Heliotrope, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Peach, Rose, Violet, Ylang Ylang
BASE:  Amyris, Benzoin, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Oakmoss, Orris, Patchouli, Peru Balsam, Sandalwood, Vanilla

happylamb

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Like a happy lamb…soft and sweet.  How can you resist such a love?

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE LILAC EXTRAIT:  comfortable, enveloping, intimate

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LILAC EXTRAIT:  CaFleureBon, The Non-Blonde

BOTTOM LINE:  Lilac Extrait is a beautiful fragrance that is well blended and really carries lilac into comforting territory.  Is it complex and daring?  No.  But sometimes beauty is best in its simplicity.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Floral
  • Classification: Feminine
  • Expense: $395 for 50ml for Parfum Extrait

Sample courtesy of Osswald Parfumerie.


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Flowerhead by Byredo

byredo_flowerheadWHAT I SMELL:  Flowerhead opens with a sweet and spicy zesty lemon which is soon followed by this wonderful Lingonberry, which is pure jelly happiness as its not thick and jam like.  Instead, it’s oh so uplifting, lilting and buoyant.  After a few more minutes, the Lingonberry dissipates and the fragrance begins to become more full-bodied and radiant.  The florals are rich and enrapturing without being too heavy and heady.  After around the 10 minute mark the jasmine takes center stage with a peppered edge.  Thankfully, the tuberose plays 2nd fiddle which keeps the whole structure lighter, although there is a spice that seems to fleck around the edges along with the greenish base.  And just when I thought the fragrance had settled in, after around 30 minutes Flowerhead starts throwing out big flowered balls as it begins to really project as if the tuberose is yelling that it wants to be seen!  A couple of spritzes and no one will miss the fact that you’re wearing this beauty. As far as I’m concerned, Flowerhead can wrap itself around my whole body!!

Flowerhead notes from the Byredo website:

Top:  Angelica Seeds, Sicilian Lemon, Lingonberry

Heart:  Wild Jasmine Sambac, Dewy Tuberose, Rose Petals

Base:  Fresh Amber, Suede

FloweredheadWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Who can fight with the perfect visual…Flowerhead!

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE FLOWERHEAD:  delightful, positive, chic

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FLOWERHEAD:  EauMG, The Glow How, Another Perfume Blog

BOTTOM LINE:  Flowerhead is a big full bottle “yes” for me.  Every time I put this on, I crave more.  This is perfect for summer…and really all year long.  My sample is almost gone…I need more!!!

  • Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Floral
  • Classification: Feminine
  • Expense: $145 for 50ml EdP


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Farnesiana by Caron

FarnesianaWHAT I SMELL:  Farnesiana opens with a thickened warmed mimosa that smells like woody plastic.  The mimosa floral is dryish at the beginning only to open up to become rounder in a couple of minutes.  There’s a subtle sweetness about Farnesiana that seems to be derived from a light almond like vanilla.  It’s very dreamy early on and it feels very fluid.  After around the 15 minute mark a hay like dusty quality makes an appearance which brings the fragrance more down to earth.  At this point, the fragrance has an almost Play-Doh smell about it which sounds like something you wouldn’t want in a perfume, but it’s not full on Play-Doh, it just has a similarity.  On top of the hay, there also seems to be a light layer of incense, which gives just a slight bite to the fragrance as it seems to waft in an out ever so slightly.  After around an hour, the mimosa really comes full force and Farnesiana blooms into this very comfortable and pretty Mimosa bouquet that has a bit of projection, but not too much.  Like many of the Caron parfum extraits, it takes a least an hour for the fragrance to settle into its beauty and when it does, its stunningly pretty.

From the Caron website:

Created in 1947, Farnesiana was, at the time, one of the most exceptional and unique interpretations of mimosa on the market.

Sweet acacia is a lesser known variety of mimosa, whose Latin name “Acacia Farnesiana” provided the inspiration for its name. It is reminiscent of Rome’s Farnèse Palace and the art of sweet, refined Mediterranean living.

Grecian BeautyWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A Roman beauty.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE FARNESIANA:  subdued, classic, original

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FARNESIANA:  I Smell Therefore I Am, The Non-Blonde, Pink Manhattan

BOTTOM LINE:  Farnesiana is very different; I can’t say that there is another fragrance out there to which I can compare it to probably because I’m not familiar with Mimosa as a primary note.  In any case,  it is a stunner for sure.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Floral
  • Classification: Feminine
  • Expense: $100 for 7.5ml Parfum Extrait