fragrance | The Scented Hound

November 4, 2013
by The Scented Hound 19 Comments

Enslaved Parfum by Roja Parfums

Please pardon me while I gush…

WHAT I SMELL: Deep and sweet, not sugary sweet, but sweet wrapped up in warm honey that seems to bellow up from darkened chasm. It’s intoxicating and hypnotic. The top notes are listed as citrus, but I’m not getting that so much as the lavender seems to absorb the sharper edges of what we typically experience with lemon and lime. Quickly the prominent jasmine takes the stage where it seduces you along with the ylang-ylang in a pool of heavy and heavenly juice. There’s so much depth to Enslaved that it literally creates this floral force field around you. Then add the rich and glowing labdanum and ambergris, Enslaved pulls out even deeper floral force field. Eventually the oak moss begins to dry out the juiciness, but it never leaves you out in the desert. Of course, everything is blended so seamlessly that picking apart the notes really is rather silly as in this case, it doesn’t really matter as I am completely intoxicated with its beauty.

From the Roja Parfums website:

“With Enslaved I loved the idea of falling in love so deeply and passionately there was no escape. In an old family dictionary, one definition of Ensalved was described as, to become a prisoner of love. I wanted to create a scent that enslaved both its wearer and those who smelt it on them: a scent with no escape where you become the wearers prisoner of love” – Roja Dove

Notes: bergamot, lemon, lime, lavender, carnation, geranium, Jasmine de Grasse, orange blossom, rose, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, oakmoss, patchouli, ambergris, labdanum, musk, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Floral hypnosis.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ENSLAVED: seductive, addictive, breathtaking

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ENSLAVED: I only found comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: I was lucky enough to be introduced to Enslaved at Sniffapalooza and then a wonderful perfumista sent me a sample which I am guarding like a grand jewel. I am addicted to this perfume and can only hope that even with the hefty price tag that Santa or the Perfume Fairy will make this mine as we were meant to be together!

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Oriental
Nose: Roja Dove
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $435 for 50ml Parfum; also available in EdP

November 2, 2013
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

John Russo Photograph for Men

WHAT I SMELL: Photograph for Men has a sparkling and zesty citrus opening which is energetic without being sweet . Funny, after a couple of minutes the fragrance seems to dissipate and it almost disappears. I’m thinking to myself… really? Is this it? All I get is a lightly fresh and sweet layer that smells good, but there’s not much there. After around 10 minutes or so, Photograph for Men starts to reveal its true self as it begins to bloom with more spice and hints of lavender. After some more time, the fragrance becomes richer and warmer with a light amber. This is no powerhouse scent, but it’s clean, neat, and somewhat spicy which gives it a bit of oomph. And for an eau de toilette, the development of the fragrance is remarkably lengthy and three-dimensional.

From the John Russo Fragrances website:

Photograph for Men is an ambery, earthy, green, woody type with top notes of mandarin, orange, bergamot, lemon, and bay oil, middle notes of lavender, ginger, leather, and clove, with an amber, woody musky smoky, tobacco note.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: John Russo is trying to capture the essence and glamour of old Hollywood. The picture on the box cover conveys the fragrance’s character very well.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PHOTOGRAPH FOR MEN: smooth, effortless, put-together

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPH FOR MEN: Photograph for Men is so new that I only found one review on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: Not quite a celebrity fragrance, but bordering on so as John Russo is a famed celebrity photographer, I was a bit skeptical as to what to expect. But Photograph for Men is well put together and a very pleasant surprise overall. Nicely done.

Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Aromatic
Classification: Masculine
Expense: $65 for 100ml EdT; available from the John Russo Fragrances website

Disclosure: Product for review provided courtesy of John Russo Fragrances.

October 20, 2013
by The Scented Hound 20 Comments

Wilde by Jardins d’Ecrivains

WHAT I SMELL: Wilde opens with a bright bergamot and a very light green tea accord. It’s kind of zingy and snappy and almost a bit sweet in a green kind of way. The fig soon comes to prominence, making this fruity, but not succulent as the vetiver and oakmoss keep it from being too round and juicy. After around 10 minutes or so, a bit of warmth emerges which comforts without taking away the zestful aspects of the fragrance. In the meantime, the oak moss combined with the carnation provides for a dusty and slightly spicy backdrop from the fig. In the end Wilde leaves you with a clean, and slightly beefy vetiver that is very easy to wear.

Notes from the Jardins d’Ecrivains website:

Top notes are bergamot and grapes; middle notes are fig, carnation and tea; base notes are oakmoss and vetiver.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A zest for life… like a fig and green cornucopia of goodness.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE WILDE: lively, joyful, positive

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WILDE: The Silver Fox, Chemist in a Bottle, Cafleurebon

BOTTOM LINE: I normally would have passed Wilde by, just by the fig and carnation notes alone. But here they don’t overwhelm, but add additional zest to this very uplifting fragrance. I am rather wild about Wilde!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Aromatic Fruity
Noses: Anais Biguine
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $110 for 100ml EdP