Perfume Review | The Scented Hound

May 8, 2017
by The Scented Hound 15 Comments

Russkaya Kozha by Berdoues

WHAT I SMELL: Russkaya Kozha has a discordant and biting opening that quickly moves to a flattened wood tinged with leather and oud. There’s a sour edge and a pungent aspect, like worn leather pants that have absorbed the dirt and sweat from the wearer. The perfume is beefy without being weighted, but it does have presence. After a few minutes, the funky opening starts to sweeten and a wonderful radiating amber and benzoin ride above the now rough hewed sueded leather. There’s a slight booziness that meets the mix and what was a bit rough and tumble at the beginning is now confidently sophisticated. It also seems like there may be a light rose note buried under the leather, but I’m not seeing that listed as one of the notes. The perfume settles down into a warmed smoky leather that is masculine without being overt but is still clearly in charge. Instead, it projects confidence in a wonderful grandeur that is born from the majestic heart of Mother Russia.

From the Berdoues website:

An elegant leather perfume.

All the sophistication of Russia captured in a glass bottle. A blend of the noblest raw materials, Russkaya Kozha develops into an intense, mysterious perfume through the combination of Cade wood from Spain, Siam Benzoin from Malaysia and Cardamom from Guatemala.

Russkaya Kozha is a leathery, amber perfume that bares eternal Russia’s soul through the blend of Cade wood and an elegant accord of Benzoin from Malaysia and Cardamom from Guatemala. An elegant and sophisticated Grand Cru.

Prince Alexander Konstantinovich Gorchakov

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A perfume fit for a Russian Prince.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE RUSSKAYA KOZHA: secure, cultivated, resolute

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT RUSSKAYA KOZHA: Colognoisseur, The Perfume Expert

BOTTOM LINE: Russkaya Kozha is a lovely leather perfume that feels refined, yet still embodies the rough edges that come with the harsh environments of the Russian landscape. This is a really nice leather perfume that doesn’t overwhelm the wearer and as a cologne, this has incredible lasting power.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Leather
Nose: Flavien Laurandeau
Classification: Leans masculine, but easily unisex
Expense: $80 for 100 ml eau de cologne

May 1, 2017
by The Scented Hound 8 Comments

Shelley Kyle Parfums Sorella

WHAT I SMELL: Sorella’s opening dances on the skin gloriously fresh and green, like fresh picked flowers off the stem. The perfume is all about the season of spring and initially it feels like walking through a meadow that is flush with dewy cooled sparkling flowers. The perfume is incredibly feminine and absolutely delightful with an incredible amount of positive energy. As such, it defies you to be in a bad mood while wearing it. After a short while, the green stems that seem to release the soft florals as if they’re being crushed under your feet like cool grass, makes way for a warm buttery note that adds a soothing layer like that of a comforting lotion. As the perfume continues to develop, the young and fresh, moves to the more mature with a rounded tuberose coming front and center. It’s waxy consistency doesn’t contain any sharp edges as it seems to glean on the skin. At the same time, it’s met with a warm amber and rapturous rose. Sorella is a lady; but a lady who isn’t demure in the least. Instead, she shines with a beautiful confidence that can’t be mistaken.

MotherDaughter From the Shelley Kyle website:

The Sorella Perfume is ideal for women who prefer floral scents that are subtle yet lingering. The combination of fresh tuberose, red roses, vintage gardenia and violet leaves provides a feeling femininity and control.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A young lady matures to womanhood.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SORELLA: gracious, enveloping, radiant

BOTTOM LINE: Wonderful perfumes don’t have to be expensive and Sorella completely exemplifies this. The perfume is wonderfully layered and it unfolds like a beautiful story. And for you Linden lovers, Shelley Kyle’s De Ma Mere is an easy to wear Linden based perfume that every time I wear it, I get multiple compliments!

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $37 for 30 ml Eau de Parfum from the Shelley Kyle website. And the great thing about Shelley Kyle products is that for each of their lines, they offer a plethora of matching products from lotions to candles and everything in between. And just in time for Mother’s Day they currently offer 10% off and free shipping on all orders!

April 27, 2017
by The Scented Hound 9 Comments

Les Parfums Louis Vuitton

I have to admit that I neglect getting to the local shops to check out new releases as I am probably the furthest from somebody who loves to go shopping…especially at the mall. But we had to head to the local Galleria (the local posh mall) this past weekend. While there, I was really curious to check out the Les Parfums Louis Vuitton collection that was released last year. Not surprisingly, the display at the store was understated and luxurious and the bottles were simple and chic (and graced with some hefty weight). What I loved most was a coffret set of all 7 of the perfumes in 10 ml bottles. It was cute, and again, packaged perfectly. The sales associate was as gracious and accommodating with my many questions and when I asked if I could get samples, stepped away and then returned with a small bag filled with the complete set. In the next couple of days, I went through all of the line and made the following determination…

the collection is nice, but nothing more. I really wanted to love each and every one of these, but all of them seemed to have been conceived in a laboratory with a void of any emotion; they just exist. I know, perfumes are meant to smell pretty…but these just lack any depth. Now, don’t get me wrong, they are pleasant enough, but I was expecting the finest, finished, smooth creations, like the most luxurious Louis Vuitton bag…instead I got a no name brand bag from Macy’s.

It’s hard writing about perfumes that you don’t love…but I will say that my favorite out of the bunch (and that’s not saying much) is Matière Noire, a woody rose combination that opens with a lovely blackcurrent note but which fades to a pleasant, but nondescript sweetened patchouli. From the Louis Vuitton website:

A blend of dark wood and white flowers ventures into a world of mystery. Exploring the universe is the ultimate travel fantasy and most thrilling adventure. Matière Noire plumbs intangible depths with a journey through the darkest, most precious woods, namely patchouli and Laos agarwood. The agarwood’s animal notes are intensified by blackcurrant and contrasted with the whiteness of narcissus and jasmine, a floral vibration that cuts the darkness like a comet. Plumes of sacred notes unfurl on the skin. The disruption is total, almost mystical.

My second choice would be Turbulences, an earthy and big and bold tuberose perfume that gets taken over by a musky jasmine that quickly fades away. From the Louis Vuitton website:

An extreme tuberose to stir the heart. Discovering faraway lands can sometimes feel like soaring among the clouds. Inspired by a feeling akin to love at first sight, the perfume Turbulences pays tribute to the most narcotic of flowers: the tuberose. Here, it fuses with the most precious petals of jasmine. A light touch of leather, and you swoon. Intensely. Deliciously.

Overall, I would give the collection a 3 bone rating. Nothing bad, but nothing great. The perfumes, for a rather hefty price, seem to fade rather quickly. Overall, this was a big disappointment to me as there was so much promise with the launch of this collection.

You can learn about the full collection at the Louis Vuitton website. Each perfume costs $240 for 100 ml eau de parfum. The cute coffret set is $290.

What others are saying about the Les Parfums Louis Vuitton collection: Perfume Posse, Kafkaesque