The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

Tag Archives: parfum


by 17 Comments

New Release: Majalis by Les Parfums de Rosine

MAJALISWHAT I SMELL:  This latest release from Les Parfums de Rosine opens with a rush of what reminds me of honey cough drops.  It’s like rich honey dripping down into a hot cup of lemon water.  The honey is thick, full-bodied and incredibly edible; so much so that I just want to lick the honey off of my wrist.  After a couple of minutes a cinnamon note is added to give the honey a little kick of spice.   This literally smells like I have just rolled myself up in a sticky warm honey mess and I keep thinking that I need to wash my hands off so I don’t get my keyboard all sticky.  After around the ten minute mark, the honeyed aspects of the fragrance start to calm down and the beginning bloom of the rose starts to make an appearance.  Due to the spice of the cinnamon and nutmeg, the rose just adds a nice light touch to the somewhat heavy spice which when sniffed fills the back of your throat with a heavy warmth.  But overall at this point, Majalis is almost like a honeyed piece of hard candy as it seems more suited for enjoying in your mouth rather than on the skin.  Again, the rose is there, but it’s really kind of overtaken by the spice.  Thankfully after around an hour, Majalis backs off the super cinnamon aspects of the fragrance, but overall, it ends up being a pleasant and somewhat dry and woody cinnamony rose that should only be worn in cool months.  I can’t imagine what would happen if you wore this in the middle of summer!

From the Les Parfums de Rosine website:

A seductive and sophisticated fragrance

The Rosa Majalis is a rose native from Asian mountains.  This simple flower develops an amazing cinnamon scent.  This is why we name it the Cinnamon Rose, and it is also considered as the “Love Rose” because of its soft and slightly captivating scent.  This natural and exquisite rose gave birth to a new fragrance: Majalis.

Soft Oriental, Majalis offers notes of cinnamon, pink pepper and nutmeg based on a precious wood background.  The rose is of course present. We have chosen a Bulgarian absolute to envelope the fragrance with its both bright and heady scent.

Top note : Bergamot, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Nutmeg, Cinnamon bark

Heart note : Cinnamon leaves, Taif Rose, Tea Rose, Rose Absolute, Jasmine, Black and red pepper, Coriander seed

Base note : Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Amber, Musk

ribbon candyWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Honeyed cinnamon ribbon candy.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE MAJALIS:  deep, rich, honeyed

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MAJALIS: Perfume Shrine

BOTTOM LINE:  I really liked the gourmand honey opening, but never having been a big fan of cinnamon I can’t say that this is my favorite rose.  However, if you do like cinnamon and nutmeg, I would recommend giving this a try.  Actually, worn next to a fire with a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter night might make for a very nice warm and fuzzy comfort moment.

  • Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Oriental Floral
  • Classification:  Leans feminine
  • Expense:  125 Euros for 100ml EdP from the Les Parfums de Rosine website

Disclosure:  Product for review provided courtesy of Les Parfums de Rosine.


by 7 Comments

Herod by Parfums de Marly

herod2WHAT I SMELL:  Herod opens with a mere second of sweet cherry pipe tobacco then quickly moves into a layer of cinnamon and sugar.  We used to put sugar and cinnamon on warm buttered toast as a child and it kind of smells like that.  Then after a few minutes more. the fragrance gets drier and more woody.  Still yet, a warmed rum note sits in play, but its not heavy and thick but instead is more creamy and contained.  From everything that I am smelling, I would kind of expect this to be big and loud, but so far, it’s holding back which is a very pleasant surprise.  At around the ten minute mark, the tobacco note begins to come back.  It’s nice and mellow and kind of cherry sweet, but it’s a muted sweet.  At 15 minutes, I’m still waiting for a bang, but it never seems to come.  And in the end, Herod stays in this very controlled state of lovely lightly vanilla’d sweetened woody tobacco bliss that dries with age.

Herod notes from the Parfums de Marly website:

Head notes: cinnamon, pepperwood

Heart notes: osmanthus, tobacco leaves, frankincense, ciste

Base Notes: vanilla pods, woody accord (cedar wood, vetiver, patchouli, ISO E Super), cypriol, musk

mensclubWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Walking by the library of a very old and established men’s club and getting a whiff of the fine tobacco mixed with the old wooden paneling and floors.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE HEROD:  restrained, comfortable, assured

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HEROD: Chemist in a Bottle

BOTTOM LINE:  Herod is what I think a good Tom Ford should smell like.  Classic, classy, restrained and not over the top.  This was my first testing of a Parfums de Marly fragrance.  If this is typical of their other offerings, I need to sample more!

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Woody Spicy
  • Nose:  Olivier Pescheux
  • Classification:  Unisex – leans a bit masculine
  • Expense:  $275 for 125ml EdT


by 15 Comments

L’eau de Shah Jahan and L’eau de Mumtaz-I Mahal by the House of Haute Perfumerie Nicolas de Barry

MahalJahanIn honor of the love that inspired one of the most beautiful structures in the world, the Taj Mahal; perfumer Nicolas de Barry created two fragrances that embody the personas of the two historical figures, whose love was so great that this magnificent monument was erected in sorrow to memorialize one man’s most beloved.

L’EAU DE SHAH JAHAN (THE PASSIONATE) – 

WHAT I SMELL:  Shah Jahan opens with a sweet rose that is quickly met with a bit of warm sandalwood.  It’s light and rather pretty until around the five minute mark when a woodiness appears and draws down any of the initial sweetness.  The fragrance at this time is quite subtle, but you can tell that bubbling underneath is an unknown presence that will soon make an appearance.  After around 15 minutes, there’s a deep and darkish burning tire note that comes into play.  However, it’s not overwhelming but helps to adds to the depth of the fragrance.  There are still hints of the sweetened rose that rise up and mix with the burnt note and they interplay as if they are sharing a ride on a fragrance teeter-totter.   After some time, the burnt note dissipates and becomes more smoky and the oud in the base is thankfully not heavy, but instead is slightly sweet which helps to keep Shah Jahan masculine and warm, yet rather pretty as well.

From the House of Haute Perfumerie Nicolas de Barry:

For this imperial fragrance, Nicolas de Barry reconstituted an oud attar according to princely traditions of Kannauj’s master perfumers who blends rose with woody scents of sandalwood and aloe.  The rose gives a fresh note to the oriental bouquet and creates a truly Indian masculine fragrance.  To wear the passionate L’eau de Shah Jahan, is becoming a gallant man inspired by love who maneuvers in the glitz and utmost refinements; a man of power who listens to his heart despite of all expectations. 

Top Note – Pink Himalayan India Rose, Middle Note – sandalwood, Base Note – Oud Assam

indiandoorwayWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A doorway to an Indian dream.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE L’EAU DE SHAH JAHAN: confident, wise, thoughtful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT L’EAU DE SHAH JAHAN:  No reviews found.

L’EAU DE MUMTAZ-I MAHAL (THE ENCHANTRESS) –  mUMTAZ

WHAT I SMELL:   Mumtaz-I Mahal goes on with a soured oudish like rose.  There’s a strange burnished note that feels like the rose has just been seared.  It sits close to the skin at the beginning until after about five minutes or so, the rose begins to warm and pulsate off of the skin.  I find this fragrance wonderfully different in the fact that it doesn’t feel like it’s for western audiences and I can say that it smells different from anything I have smelled before.   After some more time, the fragrance warms further and it begins to give off a slightly sweetened and light sugared note.  But it’s like a sheer gauze over the exotic base.  At around the 30 minute mark, the fragrance comes into its own as the rose is met with an earthy sandalwood.  This rose is about as exotic as it gets.  I feel that wearing it I’ll be met with some adventure in a far off land.  I’m having a hard time finding the words to describe this, but the best I can do is to say that it’s “sweet and sour.”  The sweetness is earthy and grounded and it’s balanced by this sourish almost plastic composition.  I know that sounds like it wouldn’t be a good thing, but it really works and adds to the exoticness.  In the end, it becomes a surprisingly close to the skin warmish, tender and powdery dream of a fragrance.  I just wish there was more longevity to it.

From the House of Haute Perfumerie Nicolas de Barry:

To pay tribute to this legendary love which inspired the most beautiful monument of India, Taj Mahal; Nicolas de Barry pretended to be the perfumer of this imperial couple.  He dedicated an ode of rose, the favorite flower of the Akbar emperor, that Mumtaz sniffs it often on her Persian miniatures.  To wear the enchanting L’eau de Mumtaz-I Mahal, is to mark your difference by your grace, sensuality and the desire to seduce by your beauty, as well as your intelligence.  A floral, powdery perfume with character for cultivate, aesthete and a little artist person.

Top Note – White Rose, Middle Note – Pink Himalayan India Rose, Base Note – sandalwood tajmahalroseWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  I’ll go with the obvious; an exotic rose amidst the grandeur of the Taj Mahal.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE L’EAU DE MUMTAZ-I MAHAL:  exotic, original, different

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT L’EAU DE MUMTAZ-I MAHAL:  No reviews found.

BOTTOM LINE:  Both of these fragrances compliment each other tremendously.  They are similar,  yet are quite different.  It’s like they each start off on their own individual journey, then meet in the middle with similar qualities, but then end their course in a way that binds and ties them together in harmony.

Disclosure:  Product for review provided courtesy of House of Haute Perfumerie Nicolas de Barry.