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
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.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Flowers on the wind.
WHAT I SMELL: Velvet Tonka opens with a soft and silky orange blossom that’s riding on top of a thickened wave of almond. The perfume starts off big and very rounded with what seems to be a taffy like glaze. It’s sweet, but more buttery almond sweet than sugary sweet. As the perfume begins to develop it radiates greatly and it reminds me of my mother’s confectionary kitchen cabinet where smells of vanilla, almond, paste and frosting created a veritable olfactory sugar rush. Continuing on, the addition of tobacco absolute helps to tame the perfume from growing out of control. However, the almond is still front and center and rather hard to resist. As the perfume continues on its journey, the almond melds with the tonka and vanilla. Here, the perfume softens oh so lightly along with a dash of wood just to even it out. It’s much later where I believe Velvet Tonka hits its “sweet spot” when it quiets to an ambered gourmet delight. It’s pretty, slightly sweet, lightly warmed and quite delightful.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Frosted almond cookies.
The Scented Hound 