The Scented Hound

Perfume blog with abbreviated perfume reviews & fragrance reviews.

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Topaze Imperiale by Krigler

topaze imperiale 213WHAT I SMELL: Topaze Imperiale opens with large blast of astringent alcohol, which then leads to this almost sour-smelling pine (kind of like dirty socks).  Thankfully, that little spell soon moves into a warm spice that seems a bit nutty and smells brownish to me (yes, don’t ask me why, but it makes me think “brown”).  After around five minutes, a little oud makes an appearance.  It’s lightly chewy and again, moves out-of-the-way quickly for the sandalwood to take its place along with hints of vetiver.  It’s smooth with streaks of sharpness that make it a bit lighter.  Soon again there’s another change; this time a dry wood that comes into play.  It’s a wood that seems to have been aged with some smoke and incense. After 20 minutes, the fragrance becomes very dry, highlighted with just a faint top layer of rose.  Where before I could only think that this could be worn by a man, with the inclusion of the rose, I now think it of this as very unisex.  All I can say is that Topaze Imperiale is classic and classy…and it lasts for a very long time.

From the Krigler website:

A rich mélange, grounded in a seductive Amber base, Topaze Imperiale evokes the undeniable allure of the precious stone. Intriguing top notes of Vetiver, Musk and Sandalwood lead to an addictive heart of Vanilla, Neroli and Oud before leading to the magnetic base that is accented by notes of Amber, Galbanum, Rose and Mandarin.

big brotherWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  This reminds me so much of my beloved Amouage Fate Woman, but this is less powdery and contains more of a burnt wood effect which makes this more masculine.  It’s like its Amouage Fate Woman’s big brother.  

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE TOPAZE IMPERIALE:  smoked, eternal, confident

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TOPAZE IMPERIALE:  I Am the Makeup Junkie

BOTTOM LINE:  Thanks to the wonderful Daisy from coolcookstyle, who purchased this precious jewel at Sniffapalooza and gave me a sample.   Topaze Imperiale is classic, with an incredible amount of subtleness.  This is a keeper and I’m thinking that maybe it’s my turn for a full bottle??!!!

  • Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent: Oriental
  • Classification:  Unisex
  • Expense:  $245 for 50ml EdP from the Krigler website


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Christopher Street by Charenton Macerations

Christopher-Street-Bottle_960WHAT I SMELL:  Christopher Street opens with a fig like citrus that has this swirling effect on my skin.  It also has this semi-petroleum like kick to it.  Hmmm, in other words, it’s a like a ripened bag of oranges and lemons being kicked by a pair of Doc Martens.  After a few minutes there’s a bit of sourness to that comes to surface.  It’s salty and sweaty, like the mix of sweat and body odor from a hot day mixed with the coolness of the air conditioning when you step inside.  It’s kind of repulsive, but there’s something rather natural about it which isn’t too off putting.  But with all this sweat, you would think that the fragrance would run hot…but it doesn’t, it’s rather cool.  After around 10 minutes, the soured orange remains, but the sweaty aspects start to dissipate as they’re replaced with an undercurrent of oakmoss and warmer hues of subtle spice.  At this point the fragrance is almost split in two as it seems to have this top aura that sits like an orb on top of grounded spice.  It’s odd in that the various layers of the fragrance seem to pull from the middle moving in opposite directions.  After around an hour there is something remote about Christopher Street.  It projects and has power for a citrus scent, but there is nothing soft there as it’s bold and rather removed.  After a couple of hours, I get a slight appearance of leather, but just barely.  For the most part I am left with this sour orange citrus sitting on a base of very dry oakmoss.

Christopher Street notes as well as the information on the fragrance’s namesake and inspiration from the Charenton Macerations website:

Top – Alcoholic Lime, Bergamot, Bitter Orange, Leather, Tobacco
Mid – Cinnamon, Clove Bud, “Dance on Skin,” Orange Blossom, Poet Carnation
Dry – Incense, Moss, Musk, Myrrh, Patchouli

New York City’s Christopher Street is one of the oldest and longest streets in the West Village. Designed as a diagonal road against a rectangular grid, Christopher Street has always been known for its subversive character.  A street of merchants and misfits, along with the occasional mob front, Christopher Street has played home to a cast of unlikely heroes that has included everyone from Beatniks to Bohemians to homosexuals. The neighborhood is a spectrum of vibrant personalities that shatter traditional notions of gender.

Developing a long-standing reputation for celebrating individual freedom, Christopher Street is most notably known as the location of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Over the years, its promises of hope have made it a chosen destination for those individuals moving to New York City in search of openness and acceptance. “The Shangri-La of the West Village.” All around the world, the name Christopher Street has become synonymous with the word “liberation.” Stemming from its rich history, its architecture, and its quintessential connections to New York City activism,Christopher Street was seen as the perfect inspiration for the first Charenton Macerations fragrance.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: If I lift my wrist to my nose, I am inclined to get a headache.  From afar the scent smells rather good.  As such, it’s like there’s a party going on down the street, but there’s a fence that separates me from the fun!

OK, not the visual I was looking for, but this is from Christopher Street and depending on your definition of a party...the work zone might keep you away!

OK, this is not the visual I was looking for, but this is a store on Christopher Street and depending on your definition of a party…the work zone might just keep you away!

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE CHRISTOPHER STREET:  sharp, raw, bold

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CHRISTOPHER STREET:  EauMG, Bois de Jasmin, Indieperfumes

BOTTOM LINE:  I really want to love this fragrance because the backstory and thought in its creation is just so wonderfully thought out and unique.   However, my body chemistry doesn’t always mix well with orange blossom and that’s what I mostly get from this boldly different creation.  I do look forward to what Charenton Macerations offers us next.


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Sensual Orchid by LM Parfums

Sensual OrchidWHAT I SMELL: Sensual Orchid opens with this gourmand almond which is lightly sweet and a bit candied, mixed with a wonderful floral bouquet.  The fragrance seems to dances of your skin in this rather bright and melodic way.  I love how cheerful it is to me in the first few minutes.  As the fragrance starts to settle it becomes more grounded with a warmish base that helps to radiate the floral aspects.  At first I was thinking, where the sensual aspects of this?  But after around five minutes you can see where it is…it’s slinky, sexy and has a “come hither” feeling to it.  After around fifteen minutes, Sensual Orchid starts becoming bigger; a combination of a sweet vanilla, coconut and a gourmand floral that’s really explodes off of the skin.  The fragrance then stays in this sweetened state through the dry down, with a little less projection and just a slight bit of soapiness.

From the LM Parfums website:

Like a model on a fashion show catwalk, Sensual Orchid captivates your senses with its incredible aromas. This second essence of perfume will take you to the front of the stage. The carnal pleasures evoked by this sumptuous arrangement of natural sophisticated fragrances awake all the sensuality surrounding. This sweet bouquet of fragrances will exhilarate you..

A first subtle scent of citrus fruit and Almond leads you into a refined heart of orchid, jasmine sambac, lysilang, peony and heliotrope then leaves a voluptuous final touch made of Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Wood, White Cedar Wood, Labdanum and Benzoin.

TOP NOTES : Mandarin, Almond, Nerolii
HE ART NOTES: orchid, Jasmine Sambac, Lisylang, Peony, Heliotrope
BASE NOTES : Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Wood, White Cedar Wood, Labdanum, Benzoin

PinksatinsheetsWHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  pink satin sheets

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE SENSUAL ORCHID:  sweetened, rounded, obvious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SENSUAL ORCHID: Kafkaseque, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE:  I had heard a great buzz about this fragrance and when I was in NYC for Sniffapalooza I really wanted to check it out, only to find that Osswald was out of stock.  Luckily a fragrant friend sent me a sample.  I think this is a case where I was expecting the world, but it just wasn’t meant to be.  You can tell from my writing above that my journey started with promise, but then dwindled to more of a “I like it.”  To me, Sensual Orchid is extremely feminine which isn’t a bad thing;  but it’s just a bit too sweet for my taste.  However, not being familiar with the LM Parfums line, I am looking forward to testing out some of their other creations.

  • Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
  • Scent:  Oriental Floral
  • Nose:  Jerome Epinette
  • Classification:  Leans feminine
  • Expense:  $225 for 100ml Parfum Extrait