WHAT I SMELL: M V2Q explodes on the skin with a dry and smooth lavender and an electric pink peppercorn. In all, it’s a surprisingly big opening. In quick manner the perfume dries and powders and seemingly expands. As it does, the perfume starts reaching to the depths with a warmed cinnamon tinged leather and begins to move to the more creamy with the addition of a beautiful jasmine sambac. I was a little worried from the start because the perfume was so dry that when I smelled it literally constricted my nostrils, but my worries dissipated with the growing creaminess and the beautiful floral heart. At this stage, the perfume is warm and inviting and increasingly sensual. The perfume seems to infuse itself into ones’ skin as one making it more of an essence than a layer of fragrance. As the perfume continues to develop, the cream begins to subside making way for a sharper mix of patchouli and tonka. Here M V2Q seems to flex its muscle with a nicely masculine beefiness that is not shy in the least. But once again the perfume seems to roll on out to the smooth and creamy as it settles from the more provocative to the more sublime. M V2Q is a handsome devil of a perfume.
From the Puredistance website:
M V2Q is utterly smooth and refined. Welcome to a world of soft leather charm. This perfume is comfortable, powerful and bright at the same time. And true to the carefully curated collection of Puredistance, M V2Q is an extrait with excellent projection and longevity.
Top Notes: Orange blossom, Pink peppercorn, Lavender essence
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Cypriol, Pine tar, Jasmine Sambac
Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Labdanum, Tonka, Cedarwood
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Daniel Craig as 007.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE M V2Q: confident, smooth, intriguing
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT M V2Q: The Plum Girl, Parfumistans blogg, CaFleureBon
BOTTOM LINE: Puredistance has discontinued their masculine masterpiece M and replaced it in their collection with M V2Q due to the unavailability of some of the ingredients based on new IFRA regulations. Instead of trying to re-create the magic of M, they decided to work with perfumer Antoine Lie to bring new life to the perfume by modernizing it but within the same vein as the original. M was inspired by the iconic James Bond 007…M V2Q is inspired by the latest Bond, Daniel Craig. And it completely works. For you lovers of the original M, there will be no worries moving to M V2Q.
- Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Leather
- Nose: Antoine Lie
- Classification: Leans masculine
- Expense: Starting at 175 Euros for 17ml parfum extrait (28% perfume oil).
WHAT I SMELL: Oh my; Hera opens up with a sweet orange blossom that quickly moves to a warmed jasmine and ylang, ylang. It’s thick, rich, intoxicating and absolutely breathtaking. From the beginning, Hera is beautifully all woman and has a persona that feels all-knowing with its golden glowing countenance. As the perfume develops, the florals become more creamy as the Rose de Mai begins to bloom from the center. The rose is rapturous without dominating and it helps to create a dream like aura in its wake. After some more time, a hint of incense whispers in, but I am guessing its the narcissus that I am smelling vs. incense, but in any case it adds a dimension of mystery to this rapturous beauty. In slow and graceful development, Hera begins to powder and dry and a wonderful oakmoss note appears. And a bit later, the perfume once again becomes a bit more creamy with what seems to be a hint of violet. Here, the perfume is so soft and enticing and lyrical in nature. It’s strange, because Hera seems to quietly move, meld and morph at every slow turn so it’s quite hard to pinpoint any development in a chronological order. And as a result, every time it’s worn it feels completely different, but no less beautiful. Hera is a gift from the gods of which this mere mortal is not giving it justice in my description, because it’s just to hard to put rapturous beauty into adequate words.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Perfectly named, Hera is indeed “Queen of the Gods.”
WHAT I SMELL: Tears opens with pink pepper and warmed orris and a light buzzing neroli and olibanum. It feels like it’s wrapped up in a opaque greenish gauze that seems to wrap around ones self as a whole. As the perfume continues to develop, the lightest of lilac appears within the gauze and it’s encompassed within the faintest of incense. So in other words, the perfume is layered with the flowers in the center, followed by the gauze and then surrounded by the incense. And to me, it’s heavenly. After a bit more, what smells to me like sandalwood (though not listed within the official notes) begins to rest under the layers. As such, it brings perfume to the ground and provides a beautiful aura of earthiness. After quite some time, the lilac and rose break out and the perfume begins to powder and become lightly sweet. This was unexpected as the perfume was really beginning to settle down. But the breakout of the florals is pure joy. After some more time, Tears once again settles quietly, but the florals remain as the centerpiece of this rather ethereal perfume.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Content kitty.
The Scented Hound 