parfum | The Scented Hound

November 4, 2013
by The Scented Hound 19 Comments

Enslaved Parfum by Roja Parfums

Please pardon me while I gush…

WHAT I SMELL: Deep and sweet, not sugary sweet, but sweet wrapped up in warm honey that seems to bellow up from darkened chasm. It’s intoxicating and hypnotic. The top notes are listed as citrus, but I’m not getting that so much as the lavender seems to absorb the sharper edges of what we typically experience with lemon and lime. Quickly the prominent jasmine takes the stage where it seduces you along with the ylang-ylang in a pool of heavy and heavenly juice. There’s so much depth to Enslaved that it literally creates this floral force field around you. Then add the rich and glowing labdanum and ambergris, Enslaved pulls out even deeper floral force field. Eventually the oak moss begins to dry out the juiciness, but it never leaves you out in the desert. Of course, everything is blended so seamlessly that picking apart the notes really is rather silly as in this case, it doesn’t really matter as I am completely intoxicated with its beauty.

From the Roja Parfums website:

“With Enslaved I loved the idea of falling in love so deeply and passionately there was no escape. In an old family dictionary, one definition of Ensalved was described as, to become a prisoner of love. I wanted to create a scent that enslaved both its wearer and those who smelt it on them: a scent with no escape where you become the wearers prisoner of love” – Roja Dove

Notes: bergamot, lemon, lime, lavender, carnation, geranium, Jasmine de Grasse, orange blossom, rose, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, oakmoss, patchouli, ambergris, labdanum, musk, vanilla

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Floral hypnosis.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ENSLAVED: seductive, addictive, breathtaking

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ENSLAVED: I only found comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: I was lucky enough to be introduced to Enslaved at Sniffapalooza and then a wonderful perfumista sent me a sample which I am guarding like a grand jewel. I am addicted to this perfume and can only hope that even with the hefty price tag that Santa or the Perfume Fairy will make this mine as we were meant to be together!

Bone Rating: 5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Oriental
Nose: Roja Dove
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $435 for 50ml Parfum; also available in EdP

October 20, 2013
by The Scented Hound 20 Comments

Wilde by Jardins d’Ecrivains

WHAT I SMELL: Wilde opens with a bright bergamot and a very light green tea accord. It’s kind of zingy and snappy and almost a bit sweet in a green kind of way. The fig soon comes to prominence, making this fruity, but not succulent as the vetiver and oakmoss keep it from being too round and juicy. After around 10 minutes or so, a bit of warmth emerges which comforts without taking away the zestful aspects of the fragrance. In the meantime, the oak moss combined with the carnation provides for a dusty and slightly spicy backdrop from the fig. In the end Wilde leaves you with a clean, and slightly beefy vetiver that is very easy to wear.

Notes from the Jardins d’Ecrivains website:

Top notes are bergamot and grapes; middle notes are fig, carnation and tea; base notes are oakmoss and vetiver.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A zest for life… like a fig and green cornucopia of goodness.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE WILDE: lively, joyful, positive

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WILDE: The Silver Fox, Chemist in a Bottle, Cafleurebon

BOTTOM LINE: I normally would have passed Wilde by, just by the fig and carnation notes alone. But here they don’t overwhelm, but add additional zest to this very uplifting fragrance. I am rather wild about Wilde!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Aromatic Fruity
Noses: Anais Biguine
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $110 for 100ml EdP

October 2, 2013
by The Scented Hound 23 Comments

Puredistance Black

WHAT I SMELL: Black opens with a sweet and deep incense and smoky accord. I want to say there’s some bergamot and what seems to be a bit of floraled honey mixed with the smokiness. That initial smokiness breaks away somewhat to reveal this almost butter like creamy light almond. But as soon as I notice that, the incense starts to waft up from the bottom again, this time with what seems to be a bit of sueded leather. There’s a bit of sour that makes an appearance that doesn’t detract, but like the smoke and incense, seems to pop in and out. After around 15 minutes it seems like there is a bit of peppered metallic that makes an appearance. Again, it comes and goes like all of the other notes which seem to intermix seamlessly without one note dominating. In the end you’re left with a very light, close to the skin, smooth and elegant slightly woody incensed perfume.

From the Puredistance Black release materials:

A MYSTERIOUS AND CHARMING FRAGRANCE THAT STAYS CLOSE TO THE WEARER AND WHISPERS STYLE & ELEGANCE

Puredistance Black is an understated elegant and mysteriously charming perfume inspired by the concept of BLACK; a concept that for centuries has been associated with secrets, mystery and style.

Puredistance BLACK is created in Paris by the famous French Perfumer Antoine Lie based on a concept of Puredistance founder Jan Ewoud Vos. The essence of the concept was to create a perfume that is close to the wearer and releases sensual and elegant scent layers in a whispering way – without shouting. A mysterious fragrance that stays in the shadow, giving away – only every now and then – part of its delicate nature.

Antoine loved the concept and created a sophisticated perfume full of charm with the same elegant personality as the timeless classic Puredistance I, but then more masculine and oriental.

And as a consequence of the concept of BLACK (that treasures the beauty of the unknown) we will not reveal the ingredients of Puredistance BLACK…. Envision, Smell, Feel. Don’t analyse.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A man of many secrets. What I mean is that there is a mysteriousness that surrounds Black. It’s very subtle and holds very close to the skin. It leans masculine and it doesn’t reveal itself until you are close at hand…you might catch a whiff of the fragrance from a slight distance, but you wonder where this deep and dark fragrance originates from. Then you realize, It originates from the man of many secrets.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE BLACK: quality, enigmatic, smooth

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BLACK: BL’eauOG, Perfume Shrine

BOTTOM LINE: Once again Puredistance has created a fragrance that is of the utmost quality and elegance. The one thing about Black that I was not expecting though is how subtle it is and how much it wears close to the skin especially for a parfum concentration. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because Puredistance is not the house that creates perfumes that shout…”look at me,” and that’s a good thing!

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Nose: Antoine Lie
Classification: Leans masculine
Expense: Black is a pure perfume (25% perfume oil) and will be available in November 2013. The EU retail price will be 165 euro for 17.5 ml, 275 euro for 60 ml. and 490 euro for the 100 ml. flacon.

Disclosure: Product for review provided courtesy of Puredistance.