floral | The Scented Hound

June 9, 2014
by The Scented Hound 11 Comments

New Release: Ann Gerard Rose Cut

WHAT I SMELL: Rose Cut opens rather sweet and lightly boozy. It’s warm and juicy and when sniffed it feels like liquid running down your throat. After a couple of minutes, the rose starts to bloom along with this wonderful peony note. The combination of the two notes together is pure magic. And when I say bloom it really blooms, like an explosion off of your skin. It’s juicy, more than dewy and rather green as the patchouli melds with the florals like a vine that grows, wraps and entwines. All the while the vanilla and benzoin base lurks below giving Rose Cut some incredible depth and warmth. After around 20 minutes, Rose Cut lightens and becomes softer and it sweetens but still maintains a great deal of projection. In the end, you’re left with a velvety, somewhat berry jamish, powdery and lightly spiced deep dream of a rose that is incredibly feminine and pretty.

From the Ann Gerard website:

Rose Cut notes: aldehydes, rum, pink pepper, roses, peony, patchouli, vanilla, oak wood absolute, benzoin absolute

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Rose Heaven

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ROSE CUT: billowing, alluring, smooth

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ROSE CUT: CaFleureBon, The Silver Fox, The Smelly Vagabond

BOTTOM LINE: Rose cut is a cut above the normal rose fragrances out there. It dries down to this dreamy state in which I never want to return.

Bone Rating: 4.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Bertrand Duchaufour
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $165 for 60ml EdP

Sample courtesy of Indigo Perfumery.

April 29, 2014
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

New Discovery: Rosas Secas by Coqui Coqui Perfumes

When we were in Merida Mexico recently, one of our hosts at the small bed and breakfast were staying out walked out one afternoon surrounded by this incredible cloud of perfumed goodness. I asked him what he was wearing and he told me he was wearing a tobacco cologne by Coqui Coqui. A light went off in my head as I just then remembered that when we were in Tulum Mexico during the holidays, I read that there was a hotel there that had a perfumerie in it, but it was too far away so we didn’t go. I then recalled that there was one in Merida as well. I asked where it was and he said 3 blocks away around the corner! Enough said, I made a trip to the store the next day.

I told you how charming we found Merida to be, but I wasn’t expecting a little bit of European glamour in the heart of this colonial city. It was a hot afternoon and we made our way to this small store, that once you opened the doors, it was all old world charm. There were perfumes on the left, candles in middle, room atomizers and diffusers in one cabinet and soaps and other goodies throughout. And towards the back there was a small room with some apparel goods and even a place where you could get an espresso and some biscuits. I was in heaven. The lovely sales assistant, Wendy spoke very little English and we spoke very little Spanish, but we managed to communicate just fine. Of course, I had to make a purchase, so after so many wonderful choices, I settled on a bottle of Rosas Secas.

WHAT I SMELL: Rosas Secas opens with a sparkling bergamot that soon is met with an equally fresh and sparkling rose. Lurking behind the rose is a lightly herbed tobacco that give the fragrance a bit of spice. Rosas Secas is light and airy as it needs to be in order to work against the heat and sun of Mexico. The fragrance doesn’t morph much, but the rose does become a bit more grounded and dryer, yet still manages to stay in this radiated freshness.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A charming Mexican beauty.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ROSAS SECAS: happy, radiant, peaceful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ROSAS SECAS: Now Smell This, Eluxe Magazine

BOTTOM LINE: Rosas Secas is perfectly unisex and is just what’s needed on those hot, hot days of summer. Unfortunately, Coqui Coqui does not have a web shopping site, but I found that you could purchase some of their fragrances (not all) via Alder & Co. And if you do contact Coqui Coqui directly, they can provide you with an overview of their full line and can arrange shipping. I do wish that I could have traveled home with one of their massive diffusers. They were huge and probably weighed a good five pounds if not more…I may have to give them a call to see how much it would cost to ship! Please check out the Coqui Coqui website as you’ll see there’s a lot more they have to offer than perfumes!

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $98 for EdP via Alder & Co.

April 22, 2014
by The Scented Hound 21 Comments

New Release: Yin & Ylang by Sonoma Scent Studio

A little over a month ago I was reading on one of my favorite sites, CaFleureBon, that CaFleureBon editor Michelyn Camen and perfumer Laurie Erickson had teamed up to create a new perfume based on a concept developed by Michelyn. I knew that whatever these two created was going to be incredible and was even more excited to learn that the featured note was going to be my beloved ylang-ylang. You can read more about Michelyn’s and Laurie’s inspiration and their creative development process at CaFleureBon. As there was a draw as part of the announcement, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek sniff…but even better, it’s now available for sale!

WHAT I SMELL: Yin & Ylang opens with a snappy bergamot and semi sweet blood orange, but quickly moves into with this very lovely and deepened fruitiness which then becomes moves even deeper revealing this ultra creamy and über sexy ylang ylang. For an opening, this is surprising as it’s weighted with a layered sheen of wax which seems to pour up from the depths below. Jasmine and tuberose take a back seat to the ylang ylang, but sit on the side revealing themselves after around ten minutes as the fragrance begins to lighten after its initial seduction. As the fragrance lightens, a hint of soured light sharpness (sandalwood?) begins to make an appearance. However, given another twenty minutes and the fragrance looses any hint of sharpness and the creamy florals really begin to project off my skin. The fragrance then blends so fluently with the base notes creating this dreamy and slightly honeyed backdrop for the exquisite florals. I’m not sure what this says about me, but I find Yin & Ylang to be sensual, yet very comforting at the same time.

Fragrance Notes from the Sonoma Scent Studio website:

Bergamot, blood orange, soft aldehydes,beeswax absolute, ylang complete oil, jasmine sambac absolute, tuberose absolute, rose damascones, ginger CO2,Mysore sandalwood oil, oakmoss absolute, amber, patchouli,vanilla, musk.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: seduction

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE YIN & YLANG: glorious, enraptured, lush

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT YIN & YLANG: Now Smell This, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE: I had the pleasure of meeting Michelyn last fall at Sniffapalooza and she is lovely and charming in every way and she knows the perfume industry like few do. Knowing Michelyn, I knew upon hearing about this new creation that it would be a hit; and I was right. Sometimes great ideas and collaborations don’t always make for a good fit. In this case, Michelyn and Laurie have created a timeless beauty that starts off with a strong seduction and leaves you with a lasting love.

Bone Rating: 4.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $55 for 17ml or $100 for 34ml from the Sonoma Scent Studio website