masculine | The Scented Hound

June 14, 2012
by The Scented Hound 4 Comments

Ambre Topkapi by Parfums MDCI

Clean fresh and sparkling are the first adjectives that I would use to describe Ambre Topkapi as it is applied initially. As nice as that sounds, it’s really not all that special or interesting. It’s really hard to pinpoint the notes as there are so many in this composition, but I can detect the citrus notes in the opening and I might detect a little bit of pineapple, but I’m not sure if that’s just power of suggestion in reading the notes!

After that initial blast of freshness (and I’m only talking for a minute), the scent moves into a nice light warm spice. Again, it’s not all that special, just nice. Finally, the scent completes it’s drydown leaving a sweeter, but still light, vanilla powdery amber. Again, nice, but nothing special.

As you can see, my enthusiasm is bare, if at all. So to be fair to Ambre Topkapi maybe the Luckyscent description may give a bit of a more inspired tonality to the scent:

The top notes are the perfumer’s nod to the classic masculine scents: the beginning of Ambre Topkapi is brightened by bergamot, spiced up by ginger and have a cool, herbal undertone of basil, thyme and lavender. The heart notes, with their combination of luxurious leather and soft, sweet sandalwood, add depth, warmth and what we can only described as a very “expensive” feel to the blend. In the base, vanilla and amber ornament the scent beautifully, bringing to it a wonderfully exotic feel, making it evocative of faraway lands, luxurious palaces, and Eastern splendor.

I found the longevity on Ambre Topkapi rather weak as is the sillage. The coolest thing about this fragrance is the fact that you can get it with the beautiful classical bust for the bottle. However, at an additional $150 is it really worth it? For the cost associated with this fragrance, I expect a lot more. I want to feel inspired to write something from an excited voice, not a forced hand!

Ambre Topkapi Notes:

Bergamot, grapefruit, pineapple, melon, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg ginger, basil, thyme, lavender, oak moss, vetiver, sandalwood, rosewood, leather, Darjeeling tea, amber, musk, vanilla, jasmine and violet

Bone Rating: 2.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Woody Spicy
Classification: Masculine
Expense: $250 for 60ml EDP with bust, $375 with bust

June 4, 2012
by The Scented Hound 3 Comments

Querelle – Parfumerie Generale Private Collection

The opening of Querelle is really lovely and very understated. So understated that I almost felt like I had to bathe in the scent to get it to stick to my skin. Funny, it’s not until this is worn for a while that the scent actually comes to the surface. But let’s get back to the opening… Querelle opens with a mild citrus and black pepper spice. This would be considered a vetiver scent, but a vetiver without screaming “I am green!”. The citrus disappears quickly and you are left with a dryness which pushes out a mild incense. The incense, pepper and a bit of amber keep this fragrance in a place where few others go. What I mean is that at times it feels like a remote and distant scent, but at other times, it swirls around up to your nostrils with an engaging warmth. And every time you lift your wrists, you’ll note that you smell something a bit different. I really like fragrances that take you on a journey. Querelle is a different scent for me and I’m surprised that it falls into my lane of liking it. This scent feels masculine to me, but it is considered unisex. It hugs close to the skin, but had great longevity. I will be visiting this scent again!

Querelle Notes: citrus, Iranian black caraway, myrrh, cinnamon, Haitian vetiver, incense, oakmoss, ambergris

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Spicy Oriental
Classification: Unisex, but leans masculine
Expense: $100 for 50ml EDP

May 10, 2012
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

Roadster by Cartier

I purchased Roadster for my better half because I love to smell him in it. I think of this as his “power” scent, telling him to wear it when he has an important meeting. Funny thing is that I have never worn it myself so I thought I would give it a spin. Unfortunately, as much as I love it on him, I didn’t find wearing it myself so appealing. Don’t get me wrong though, this is a great fragrance.

Roadster goes on with a fresh blast of mint. This is not a super green mint, but one that’s more tailored. It has a spicy edge that makes is smooth and masculine. Roadster has a wonderfully commanding presence that runs the line between being green yet warm. And to boot, it has great sillage and is long-lasting. Perfect for when you need to wear a “power” scent!

Roadster Notes: Bergamot, Spearmint, Peppermint, Cashmere Wood, Patchouli, Cistus Labdanum, Vanilla