The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.


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New Release: Puredistance M V2Q

WHAT I SMELL:   M V2Q explodes on the skin with a dry and smooth lavender and an electric pink peppercorn.  In all, it’s a surprisingly big opening.  In quick manner the perfume dries and powders and seemingly expands.  As it does, the perfume starts reaching to the depths with a warmed cinnamon tinged leather and begins to move to the more creamy with the addition of a beautiful jasmine sambac.  I was a little worried from the start because the perfume was so dry that when I smelled it literally constricted my nostrils, but my worries dissipated with the growing creaminess and the beautiful floral heart.  At this stage, the perfume is warm and inviting and increasingly sensual.  The perfume seems to infuse itself into ones’ skin as one making it more of an essence than a layer of fragrance.  As the perfume continues to develop, the cream begins to subside making way for a sharper mix of patchouli and tonka.  Here M V2Q seems to flex its muscle with a nicely masculine beefiness that is not shy in the least.  But once again the perfume seems to roll on out to the smooth and creamy as it settles from the more provocative to the more sublime.  M V2Q is a handsome devil of a perfume.

From the Puredistance website:

M V2Q is utterly smooth and refined. Welcome to a world of soft leather charm. This perfume is comfortable, powerful and bright at the same time. And true to the carefully curated collection of Puredistance, M V2Q is an extrait with excellent projection and longevity.

Top Notes: Orange blossom, Pink peppercorn, Lavender essence 

Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Cypriol, Pine tar, Jasmine Sambac

Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Labdanum, Tonka, Cedarwood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Daniel Craig as 007.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE M V2Q:  confident, smooth, intriguing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT M V2QThe Plum Girl, Parfumistans blogg, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  Puredistance has discontinued their masculine masterpiece M and replaced it in their collection with M V2Q due to the unavailability of some of the ingredients based on new IFRA regulations.  Instead of trying to re-create the magic of M, they decided to work with perfumer Antoine Lie to bring new life to the perfume by modernizing it but within the same vein as the original.  M was inspired by the iconic James Bond 007…M V2Q is inspired by the latest Bond, Daniel Craig.  And it completely works.  For you lovers of the original M, there will be no worries moving to M V2Q.

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Leather
  • Nose:  Antoine Lie
  • Classification: Leans masculine
  • Expense: Starting at 175 Euros for 17ml parfum extrait (28% perfume oil).

 


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Puredistance Rubikona

WHAT I SMELL:   Rubikona seems to glide on the skin with a warm, mysterious mandarin and a rather buttery grapefruit which is quickly met with the most creamy layer of florals that seems to pour out from an ancient vessel.  Intermixed, the florals seem to weave in and out, highlighted between a muted combination of rose and ylang-ylang.  The creaminess is incredibly unique and it makes you wish you could bathe in its silky beauty.  As the perfume continues to develop, a thin veneer of cloves begins to hover below the florals.  The cloves add just the right amount of mystery as the perfume begins to warm the creamy florals while it greets the addition of an unsweetened vanilla and tart patchouli.  Even though the perfume moves to this new stage in development, it continues to retain it’s creaminess as the perfume really begins to radiate.  Here, Rubikona will put anyone under her spell who falls in her wake as the perfume swirls and dives as it comes off of the skin.  As the perfume continues to develop, the creaminess begins to dissipate and the woody and slightly soured patchouli begins to intensify.  In the end, Rubikona radiates a soft, yet powerful aura of exotic mystery.  Rubikona is boldly beautiful and quietly commanding.

From the Puredistance website:

RU BI KO NA … Four distinct sounds that together form their own small symphony. Much like a perfectly cut RUBY that fascinates by the various shades of red and intensities of light. Puredistance Rubikona is a deep, warming perfume with a gracious, warm heart – safely embedded in deep blue satin. Elegance in every vein, in line with the sophisticated character of Puredistance. Rubikona is ‘Chic Inside Out’.

Top Notes – Grapefruit, Bergamot, Mandarin.

Circe, The Temptress – Charles Hermans

Middle Notes – Rose, Iris, Ylang, Clove, Orange blossom, Creamy notes.

Base Notes – Patchouli, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Solar notes, Musk.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  The red temptress.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE RUBIKONA:  creamy, exotic, enticing

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT RUBIKONAPerfumManiac, The Fragrant Journey, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  Rubikona is an exotic beauty with a creamy heart that is beyond gorgeous.  I would say that the perfume is not oriented to being an everyday perfume, but instead should be released to entice during those evenings on the town…or maybe just when you’re trying to weave a spell on that special someone in your life.  

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent: Oriental 
  • Nose:  Cecile Zarokian
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: Starting at 175 Euros for 17ml parfum extrait (28% perfume oil).

 


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Bvlgari Garanat

GaranatWHAT I SMELL:   Garanat opens with a hint of spiced cinnamon that very quickly turns to the rose.  The perfume is soft and creamy, yet at the same time it grabs the wearer because it demands attention as it grows in volume and its middle eastern gravitas.  There’s not a lot at play with Garanat, the perfume is a straight shot of incense infused deeply intoxicating beefish oriental rose.  As such, it doesn’t change much except for the incense becoming a bit more pronounced along with a woody timbre.  But from the beginning to the end, Garanat is masculine and incredibly sexy all while being a perfect gentleman.  Who knew rose and incense could be so incredible?  It’s a simple as that.

From the Bvlgari website:

Inspired by the deep Red Garnet from Bosphorus, the fragrance conveys masculine strength and forerightness. The crimson gemstone shines in the darkness, bringing its wearer the impassioned courage and vision of Suleyman the Magnificent, the most seducing Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

A dense, spellbinding swirl of an ardent and masculine rose entwined with noble smoked incense for a mesmerizing fragrance of supreme virile force.

Notes: Cinnamon Essence, Rose Absolute, Smoked Incense

1549547182-yasser (1)WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Middle Eastern sexiness; Egyptian actor Yasser Galal.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GARANATbold, manly, refined

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GARANAT:  No reviews found.

BOTTOM LINE:  Garanat is not a perfume full of twists and turns.  Once it goes on, you get rose and incense and that’s where it stays for hours.  Garanat is a simply elegant, long lasting masculine beauty.

  • Bone Rating:  4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Oriental
  • Nose: Jacques Cavallier
  • Classification: Leans masculine
  • Expense: $332 for 100 ml eau de parfum.