oriental | The Scented Hound

August 26, 2012
by The Scented Hound 20 Comments

Field Notes from Paris by Ineke

A lovely friend sent me a package of goodies this past week. Of course, I had to check them all out upon arrival, but Field Notes from Paris is the one that struck a chord with me most…

WHAT I SMELL: Green, refreshing blast that slowly melts away into a beautiful patchouli and tobacco leaf middle phase. It’s sweet, but what I call an adult sweet, not a kid kind of sweet. Finally, what is interesting to me is that this fragrance ends up like two fragrances in one. What do I mean? When I bring my arm up to take in the fragrance, I get a light leather scent. The kind of leather that belongs to a well-worn book where the cover has been used thin. But when I am just enjoying the fragrance on me as a whole, Field Notes from Paris is almost gourmand, like coffee and almond/vanilla cookies (all very subtly dressed together).

Field Notes from Paris Notes: coriander, orange flower, bergamot, tobacco flower & leaf, patchouli, cedar, tonka bean, beeswax, leather, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Perfect for today’s rainy weather, Field Notes from Paris does remind me of exactly what Ineke was trying to convey; “sweet-scented Paris afternoons, life measured out in coffee spoons.” Perfect for hanging out in your favorite sweater and jeans on a Sunday morning while recuperating from your all too fun Saturday night.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE FIELD NOTES FROM PARIS: comfortable, laid-back, friendly

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FIELD NOTES FROM PARIS: Scents Memory, Notable Scents, EauMG

BOTTOM LINE: Lovely and subtle; good for a man or a woman. This may just be the right fragrance for the coming winter when I’m curled up reading a book next to the fire.

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Woody Oriental
Classification: Unisex
Nose: Ineke Ruhland
Expense: $88 for 75ml EdP

June 28, 2012
by The Scented Hound 6 Comments

Chypre Palatin by Parfums MDCI

Last week I received six samples that I haven’t had a chance to start reviewing until today. Of course, that didn’t stop me from stealing a quick sniff of each fragrance when I first got the package. The one scent that really stuck a nerve upon first sniff was Chypre Palatin by Parfums MDCI. So when I reached into the package today… that was my first choice.

Chypre Palatin’s first offered up a rush of citrus and cedar and then quickly a warm amberish lavender and what seemed to be eucalyptus (but I’m not seeing eucalyptus in the notes?? hmmm). The fragrance goes on very warm without being heavy and it’s very comforting. In a little while the scent then moves to an even warmer almost floral setting. It’s very peaceful and serene. The kind of scent where you want to close your eyes and breath in its aromatherapeutic qualities.

As Chypre Palatin continues it’s drydown it moves into a very familiar what I would call barbershop phase. It’s traditional and old world and masculine at this point. But stop, don’t let me confuse you by thinking this fragrance is old-fashioned and masculine. It’s not. The opening and the dry down make it much more universal and modern. In the end, Chypre Palatin quiets down to a nice oak moss and vanilla scent with just a touch of powder. However, depending on what you’re doing, those middle warm aromatic notes will still come to surface as the day wears on.

Longevity is average as is the sillage. Chypre Palatin is a lovely surprise that feels old and new world at the same time and I think would be perfect for men and women alike.

As I have issues with deciphering the notes from a fragrance with complicated compositions; just note that all the ingredients below make for a perfect fragrance!

From the Parfums MDCI website:

The result is incredibly complex and rich, a velvet-like fragrance, a sort of gold-embroidered, fur-lined brocade, somptuous and wild…

The surprise comes from the discovery that “Chypre Palatin” is utterly masculine, but could also be one of the most sensuous, voluptuous feminine fragrance !

Chypre Palatin Notes:

Head: jacinth, clementine, aldehydes, cistus essence, galbanum essence, thyme, lavender

Heart: rose, jasmin, iris concrète, prune, gardenia

Base: benjamin, styrax, leather, vanilla, tolu, castoreum, costus, oakmoss, everlasting absolute

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Green Oriental Chypre
Classification: Unisex
Expense: Expense: $250 for 60ml EDP with bust, $375 with bust

May 29, 2012
by The Scented Hound 5 Comments

The Library Collection – Opus VI by Amouage

I really hate it when fragrances don’t mix well with your body chemistry. Well, that’s what I am assuming since I have read some really lovely reviews of Opus VI. On me, well, lovely has a sour side. I have sampled this fragrance a couple of times and each time the same thing happens.

The promise of Opus VI’s opening is one of a beautiful invitation. It goes on warm, but light. There’s a rich buttery note that sits at the top. So pretty and inviting. I love ambers and they typically love me.

Well, after the first 2 minutes of that lovely opening, the dark side of this scent comes out. Metal. A metal component that is sharp and sour soon takes over. It’s still warm however and a mellow wood accentuates the base. But I still can’t get past that metallic edge. Nasomatto’s Pardon did the same thing on me. However, the Opus VI metallics aren’t nearly as strong as Pardon’s were. I was looking at both sets of ingredients to see if there was something similar that could be making this happen. The only ingredient I found the same was sandalwood which normally would not create such a sensation on me. The mystery continues.

I really can’t say anything more. Once the metal smell takes over I can’t get past the other elements of the fragrance. This really makes me sad, considering yesterday I was in love with my Parfum d’Empire scents.

Opus VI Notes:

Sichuan Pepper, Frankincense, St Thomas Bay, Periploca, Cypriol, Patchouli, Ambranum, Z11, Sandalwood, Cistus.