review | The Scented Hound

April 25, 2016
by The Scented Hound 33 Comments

Les Exclusifs de Chanel Beige

WHAT I SMELL: Beige opens with bright aldehydes and then quickly moves to a soft, cottony mix of delicate flowers. The perfume is incredibly demure and unassuming and the freesia and frangipani are wonderfully muted. I often wondered if I could ever like a perfume that held frangipani…I think I finally found “the one.” The perfume doesn’t transform much, but instead, feels as if a ray of sunshine has warmed the perfume and made it grow oh so slightly. There’s a lovely combination of warmth and coolness at play; it feels tinged with sunshine, but there’s a cool breeze that provides for an underlay. After around 10 minutes, the perfume begins to dry and the perfume begins to powder. At this point, it feels like a light layer of talcum is covering your skin. The florals also begin to retain a woody texture, rather like a light balsa wood. After around 20 minutes, the perfume takes on a delicate sweetness of honey. It’s just the right amount of light sugar to make the perfume sparkle. Who knew beige could be so beautiful?

From the Chanel website:

“I take refuge in beige because it’s natural,” said Mademoiselle Chanel. An elusive colour with infinite variations, beige may seem quite ordinary. And yet, behind this apparent simplicity, it hides a discreet sensuality that builds slowly before revealing itself fully. This sensual outburst is interpreted by Jacques Polge through a bouquet of Hawthorn, Freesia and Frangipani, with shimmering hints of honey. A stunning blend of white petals and yellow gold…in other words, a breath of beige.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Central Park, NYC. The Upper East side social set meets the tranquility of the park.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE BEIGE: unassuming, elegant, effortless

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT BEIGE: Bois de Jasmin, Now Smell This, Perfume Shrine

BOTTOM LINE: I believe that I have overlooked Beige over the years due to the name. The name renders thoughts of cardboard boxes and abject nothingness. Instead, Beige proves to be an uncomplicated, subtle and beautiful understated classic. I’ll never think of beige as being boring anymore.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Jacques Polge
Classification: Leans feminine, but is rather unisex
Expense: $160 for 2.5 oz. Eau de Toilette (review based on the EdT version. Also available in parfum extrait.)

April 18, 2016
by The Scented Hound 21 Comments

New Release – Tauerville Fruitchouli Flash

WHAT I SMELL: Fruitchouli Flash does open with a flash…a flash of warm, peach, apricot and ripe fruit, topped with a nutty, rather carameled syrup. It is rich, thick, heavy and interestingly burnt. The perfume smells like a fruit and nut topping that you would put on an ice cream sundae. After around five minutes, the syrupy thickness gives way, but the fruity sweetness begins to really grow and project. At this point it’s hard to tell where the fruity ends and the patchouli begins as this is just, sweet upon sweet. After some more time, the fruity turns to floral. Though still sweet, it now feels like a bit of caramel has covered a bouquet of flowers vs. a fruit compote. As the perfume continues to develop, the sweets adds an undercurrent of creaminess and the perfume becomes smoother. After quite some time, the perfume begins to pull considerably back with the sweetness and the woody patchouli seems to air the perfume out. In the end, the fruity floral sweetness is still there, but it thankfully recedes to softer level.

Fragrance Notes:

Apricot, Peach, Rose, White Flowers, Musk, Patchouli

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A deluge of sweet caramelized fruity cream.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE FRUITCHOULI FLASH: over-the-top

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FRUITCHOULI FLASH: Now Smell This, Colognoisseur

BOTTOM LINE: I just dabbed on the smallest amount on my wrist and I think the sweetness travelled up to my mouth and I’m about to lose a couple of teeth. You really have to love sweet perfumes to like Fruitchouli Flash. It makes me feel like I just left the ice cream parlor and that sticky sweet bright atmosphere is still stuck to my skin.

Bone Rating: 2 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Fruity
Nose: Andy Tauer
Classification: Unisex
Expense: The price is very right at $63 for 30 ml eau de parfum.

April 14, 2016
by The Scented Hound Leave a comment

Lalique Pour Homme Faune

WHAT I SMELL: Faune’s opening is sweet with a sugared bergamot and lavender in addition to a minty green, almost toothpaste freshness. There’s also a light spice, mixed with the soapy lavender. The projection is big and bright and it sparkles with a beautiful sweetened herbal radiance. As the perfume develops, the brightness calms and becomes dryer and more woody. Still radiant, the early sparkles retires to a classic patchouli and lavender, with hints of lightly creamed vanilla.

Top notes are coriander, lavender, mandarin orange, juniper and bergamot; middle notes are pepper, anise and geranium; base notes are sandalwood, amber, patchouli, musk, vanilla, oakmoss and cedar.

1920’s Australian mugshot

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A well-groomed 1920’s mobster…looking good and smelling good.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE FAUNE: jaunty, fresh, approachable

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FAUNE: None to be found, except for comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: Faune is a no-nonsense, easy to wear, clean and fresh perfume for men that could be worn on any occasion. It’s light enough to wear to work, but it would also work well for a night on the town. Faune is perfect when you don’t want to overthink what your perfume choice of the day should be.

Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Aromatic Fougere
Nose: Philippe Romano
Classification: Masculine leaning towards unisex
Expense: Varies. Review based on the Eau de Parfum version.