LM Parfums | The Scented Hound

Let me start off this post by saying that it’s not my intent to offend. So please forgive me if I do! OK, given that…

WHAT I SMELL: Back in the mid-to-late 90s a group of my friends would head down to New Orleans during the Labor Day holiday season. At that time of year, the heat and humidity are oppressive. Combine that with small bars that are packed to the rafters mixed with sweat and alcohol, our group line was that “New Orleans smells like ass!” Hard Leather “smells like ass.” Yes, the opening is about as fecal as I have ever smelled. It smells like the back of a dirty bar where the mix of leather, urine and all other kinds of debauched happenings are going on. Does that mean that Hard Leather is horrific? No, it’s just real. After around 20 minutes a light honey comes out which helps to break the “hard” from the hard leather. But don’t get me wrong, this is all leather, it’s just not quite as dirty as it was. After that, Hard Leather get’s just a tad sweeter with the inclusion of some vanilla. But just when I thought the progression was over, Hard Leather becomes dryer, rather smoky and it loses any hint of sweet, but it still remains all leather, there is no doubt!

From the LM Parfums website:

This fragrance opens with a masculine soaring of rum associated with leather tonalities. The heart reveals the elegance of iris supported by the intoxicating honey.

The rich and spicy base notes of sandalwood, cedarwood, oud, frankincense, styrax and vanilla exude strength and Styrax,Vanilla depth .

Top Notes: Rum, Leather
Heart Notes: Iris, Honey
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Oud, Frankincense, Styrax,Vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A hot sweaty dance floor.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE HARD LEATHER: semi-tough, strapping, potent

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HARD LEATHER: Kafkaesque

BOTTOM LINE: This is a Saturday night guys night out on the town kind of fragrance. I’m not sure where else I would wear this unless I added a layer of my favorite feminine floral fragrance on top to make it my own personal “angel with a dirty face” scent!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Leather
Classification: Masculine
Expense: 295 Euros or approximately $400 for 100ml Parfum Extrait

Thanks to Kafkaesque and LM Parfums for the 10ml bottle I received via a Kafkaesque sample draw.

WHAT I SMELL: Sensual Orchid opens with this gourmand almond which is lightly sweet and a bit candied, mixed with a wonderful floral bouquet. The fragrance seems to dances of your skin in this rather bright and melodic way. I love how cheerful it is to me in the first few minutes. As the fragrance starts to settle it becomes more grounded with a warmish base that helps to radiate the floral aspects. At first I was thinking, where the sensual aspects of this? But after around five minutes you can see where it is…it’s slinky, sexy and has a “come hither” feeling to it. After around fifteen minutes, Sensual Orchid starts becoming bigger; a combination of a sweet vanilla, coconut and a gourmand floral that’s really explodes off of the skin. The fragrance then stays in this sweetened state through the dry down, with a little less projection and just a slight bit of soapiness.

From the LM Parfums website:

Like a model on a fashion show catwalk, Sensual Orchid captivates your senses with its incredible aromas. This second essence of perfume will take you to the front of the stage. The carnal pleasures evoked by this sumptuous arrangement of natural sophisticated fragrances awake all the sensuality surrounding. This sweet bouquet of fragrances will exhilarate you..

A first subtle scent of citrus fruit and Almond leads you into a refined heart of orchid, jasmine sambac, lysilang, peony and heliotrope then leaves a voluptuous final touch made of Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Wood, White Cedar Wood, Labdanum and Benzoin.

TOP NOTES : Mandarin, Almond, Nerolii
HE ART NOTES: orchid, Jasmine Sambac, Lisylang, Peony, Heliotrope
BASE NOTES : Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Wood, White Cedar Wood, Labdanum, Benzoin

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: pink satin sheets

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE SENSUAL ORCHID: sweetened, rounded, obvious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SENSUAL ORCHID: Kafkaseque, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE: I had heard a great buzz about this fragrance and when I was in NYC for Sniffapalooza I really wanted to check it out, only to find that Osswald was out of stock. Luckily a fragrant friend sent me a sample. I think this is a case where I was expecting the world, but it just wasn’t meant to be. You can tell from my writing above that my journey started with promise, but then dwindled to more of a “I like it.” To me, Sensual Orchid is extremely feminine which isn’t a bad thing; but it’s just a bit too sweet for my taste. However, not being familiar with the LM Parfums line, I am looking forward to testing out some of their other creations.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Oriental Floral
Nose: Jerome Epinette
Classification: Leans feminine
Expense: $225 for 100ml Parfum Extrait