parfum | The Scented Hound

August 26, 2015
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

New Release: La Cologne de Rosine by Les Parfums de Rosine

WHAT I SMELL: La Cologne de Rosine opens up with a bright and fresh citrus that feels like it’s splashed with a refreshing tonic. In a few minutes, a bright clean rose and violet combo give the perfume a pretty persona. For being a pretty girl, the perfume has some pretty powerful projection, but there’s nothing heavy about La Cologne de Rosine because the “big” is as light as a feather. After some more time, a light musk and wood bring a clean and slightly “bathtastic” brush stroke of powder to the beaming florals which are warmed with the lightest of amber. In the end, La Cologne de Rosine is a pretty rose tinged with freesia that is lit with rays of sunshine.

From the Les Parfums de Rosine website:

Notes: Bergamot, Citrus, Tangerine, Rose Essence, Freesia, Violet, Cedar Wood, White Musk, Amber

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Large white fluffy cumulus clouds moving quickly across the backdrop of the bluest sky.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE LA COLOGNE DE ROSINE: uncomplicated, clean, easy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT LA COLOGNE DE ROSINE: EauMG, Now Smell This

BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for a perfume that is clean with a floral radiance, La Cologne de Rosine is the perfect solution.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Leans feminine
Expense: 105 Euros for 100 ml Eau de Parfum available from the Les Parfums de Rosine website

August 24, 2015
by The Scented Hound 3 Comments

New Release: One Night in Rio

WHAT I SMELL: One Night in Rio opens with a luscious sweet and juicy passion fruit; like a bowl full of fruit and melon goodness, so ripe and with just picked freshness. Quickly a dash of pepper comes to sit on top of the fruit extracting the almost too much fruity juicy goodness to more of an exotic spiced cocktail. The perfume rapidly starts to dry and moves from fruity to floral. The florals are pretty, very sexy and round and robust…but still topped with a grounded pepper. After around 10 minutes, the vanilla slowly enters giving the perfume a slightly sweetened tinge. Add to that a light coconut and waxy suntan lotion note and the perfume now makes you feel that you’re walking along the beach at Impanema. One Night in Rio is interesting in that it lives in this other worldly state of sweet and spice, floral and pepper; which means that the perfume is completely and utterly exotic.

From from the A Lab on Fire website:

Passion Fruit Pillow

Night air strokes skin, cheek against shoulder, neck bare. Night air against curved back, touched gently, a new love—his open-armed embrace. Music catches up to you and everyone is dancing, the road is dancing, the cars are dancing. Guarded by its jungled hills, their wide leaves too green, night sky too blue, the city pools. Immerse yourself. Spread your arms out, lithe and swaying. The music plays inside you. Bright street, dark alley. One night to discover a delicate moment in full bloom.

Top~ black pepper, neroli, Mid~ passion fruit, tiare flower, magnolia, Dry~ musk, white amber, vanilla bean

The original Latina Bombshell – Diosa Costello

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The perfume is modern, yet very nostalgic…and invokes visions of a Latina Bombshell surrounded by big print 1940’s upholstery.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ONE NIGHT IN RIO: sexy, easy, lively

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ONE NIGHT IN RIO: I was unable to find any other reviews, except for a few comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: One Night in Rio is developed by A Lab on Fire, but is being released as “unbranded.” I’m not sure what that’s all about and does it really matter? The fact is that One Night in Rio is a fun and sexy perfume to remind you that even though it’s going to start getting colder soon in the northern hemisphere, you can always head down to Rio for a little summer fun.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Fruity
Nose: Jean-Marc Chaillan
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $110 for 60 ml Eau de Parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary

August 19, 2015
by The Scented Hound 14 Comments

Hedonist Iris by Viktoria Minya

WHAT I SMELL: Hedonist Iris opens up with a soft and clean blackcurrent that seem to be wrapped within green stems. A white musk sits on top of the blackcurrent like a cotton ball which seems to be drying out the juice of the fruit. In fact, the perfume is surprisingly dry and it quickly begins to powder which helps to make the perfume project. The iris here is radiant; there is nothing dirty or earthen about it. And the iris is Iris butter, which gives the floral a smooth finish that’s rather weighty. After around 15 minutes, the musk really come into play giving Hedonist Iris a rather clean and sparkling glow.

From the Viktoria Minya website:

A romantic perfume for a graceful woman who cares for sensual luxury. The essence of this pure fragrance is the most expensive natural raw material of all – Iris butter. Its cool elegance is laced with tantalizing notes of cocoa and blackcurrant absolute and crowned by a fine blend of musks.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Think pink…Hedonist Iris is all Glinda the Good Witch of the North

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE HEDONIST IRIS: uber-feminine, gentile, clean

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HEDONIST IRIS: Megan in Saint Maxime, Olfactoria’s Travels, The Non-Blonde

BOTTOM LINE: This perfume has me perplexed; on one hand the perfume is extremely feminine, but there’s almost a childlike quality as if the perfume is not suited not for a woman, but instead is best suited for a young lady of unintended virtue. Obviously, I’m not the intended audience.

Bone Rating: 2.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Woody Musk
Nose: Viktoria Minya
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $200 for 45 ml Eau de Parfum