The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Tag Archives: parfum


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Annick Goutal Gardenia Passion

Gardenia PassionWHAT I SMELL:  Gardenia Passion’s initial opening begins with a waxy smooth tuberose that’s tinged with pink pepper.  A wonderful green lifts the bouquet from below as the floral seem to sparkle with sunshine.  In a little, a light touch of earthen jasmine brings the floral to a more grounded level.  So where’s the gardenia?  As it further develops, a rubbery and creamy consistency comes in and give the feeling of a gardenia bloom.  At the same time the green turns to more of a vegetal tomato vine.  Does it smell like true gardenia?  No, instead the perfume takes on a more muted tuberose, but at times it does waft towards the gardenia.  The perfume overall has a light to medium touch which makes this perfect for the spring or summer months as it will not overwhelm or suffocate.

From the Annick Goutal website:

Annick Goutal’s captivating tribute to freshly-picked gardenia. A troubling reinterpretation, nuanced with the accord of mesmerizing tuberose and seductive jasmine.

Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung!

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  There is nothing frivolous about Gardenia Passion; but the perfume, combined with the ensuing warm weather has me all excited about the burgeoning Spring!

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GARDENIA PASSION:  comforting, classical, lady-like

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GARDENIA PASSION: The Non-Blonde, Perfume Shrine, Perfume-Smellin Things

BOTTOM LINE:  Gardenia Passion is an easy wear that is beautiful, charming and while lady-like is not stuffy or too proper and could be worn anywhere and at anytime.

  • Bone Rating:  3.5 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral
  • Classification: Feminine
  • Expense: Varies.  Review based on the Eau de Toilette version.


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New Release: Commes des Garcons Dot

comme-des-garcons-dot-perfume-1WHAT I SMELL:  Dot opens with a juicy, fruity and tangy orange that’s fresh, but quickly moves toward a flattened and slightly bitter orange.  The perfume feels voluminous in so that when you take a breath of it in, it fills your lungs with an expanse of air and there’s a layer of musk that seems to be painted on to a soft osmanthus.  To me, Dot feels incredibly manufactured as there is nothing remotely natural about the perfume.  But that’s not a bad thing because the perfume has this otherworldly freshness about it.  The soft florals have a slight vegetal tinge rather similar to a carrot leaf.   As the perfume develops, the fragrance doesn’t morph all that much, but it does seem to grow in projection.  In the end, Dot is all about the osmanthus.  It’s soft and lightly fruited, but here it’s topped off with a little powder that feels like it’s sitting on a warmed cotton ball.

Notes:  Leafy Greeness, Bitter Orange, Pepper, Osmanthus Absolute, Olibanum, White Amber Woods

Rabbits&CarrotsWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Maybe partly because it’s getting close to Easter, but this reminds me of a carrot eating fluffy rabbit.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE DOT: sunny, easy, effortless

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DOT:  No reviews found, besides comments found on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE:  Dot is a feel good perfume that radiates an uncomplicated positive energy.  I like that!

  • Bone Rating:  3 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral Fruity
  • Nose: Lucas Sieuzak
  • Classification: Unisex
  • Expense: $130 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary.  Opinion my own.


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La Chasse aux Papillons by L’Artisan Parfumeur

L'artisan Parfumeur La Chasse Aux Papillons-300x300WHAT I SMELL:  La Chasse aux Papillons opens with a muted bergamot and a soft and demure orange blossom that’s tangy green.  The semi-sweet perfume is lyrical as it dances and pirouettes off my skin with wisps like soft breezes.  Overall, the perfume is incredibly girlish, pretty and joyous.  The lightened jasmine adds just the right amount of depth with a tad bit of flattened earthened dirt.  But by no means is this a dirty perfume.  Instead, it’s all sunshine and garden with the white flowers, highlighted by an incredibly soft tuberose and the lightest of green.  La Chasse aux Papillons does not develop much, but it doesn’t have to as it’s a simple, pretty and beautifully sunny and happy perfume.

From the L’Artisan Parfumeur website:

Chasing butterflies, surrounded by white flowers. A fragrance icon, perfect for summer days.

Imagine a summer garden flooded with sunshine, full of delicate white flowers, jasmine, orange blossom, tuberose and lime blossom; scents mingling to intoxicate the senses. Sunlight catches the wings of butterflies as they dart among the trees and flowers. Somewhere in the garden you can hear the laughter of children as they chase the butterflies, trying in vain to catch them as they escape on a sunny breeze. This is La Chasse aux Papillons (Chasing Butterflies), the scent of sun-kissed skin, luminous and transparent; a fragrance to make the summer months last that little bit longer.

Notes: Linden blossom, Jasmine, Lemon blossom, Tuberose

jeanettemcdonaldWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: An operettic Jeanette McDonald (sans Nelson Eddy).

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE LA CHASSE AUX PAPILLONS: delightful, charming, coquettish

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LA CHASSE AUX PAPILLONS: Bois de Jasmin, Megan in Saint Maxime, EauMG

BOTTOM LINE:  La Chasse aux Papillons is utterly charming, beautiful and delightfully feminine and a completely wonderful perfume.

  • Bone Rating:  4 out of possible 5 bones
  • Scent:  Floral
  • Nose:  Anne Flipo
  • Classification: Feminine
  • Expense: $145 for 100 ml eau de toilette

Sample courtesy of Arielle Shoshana.  Opinion my own.