unisex | The Scented Hound

February 10, 2016
by The Scented Hound 7 Comments

New Release: This is Not a Blue Bottle by Histoires de Parfums

WHAT I SMELL: This is Not a Blue Bottle opens with vibrant aldehydes tinged with a bright and sunny orange which is more energized than juicy. Quickly, a warm honey seems to envelope the perfume and takes the bright and sunny to the warm and serene. The perfume then moves towards a sweetened patchouli with hints of sugar. But after another short period, this delightful sugared patchouli is met with a light musk that is warmed every so slightly with a woody amber. This is Not a Blue Bottle is about an effortless and easy of wear of a perfume as there is.

From the Histoires de Parfums website:

For its latest publication, Histoires de Parfums is releasing a blue page representing freedom
of expression for all. This time Histoires de Parfums is not telling a novel, nor citing a tale or poem.

This blue page is yours to write as no one else can do it for you. It’s up to you to be the author of your story.

Top Note: hypnotic aldehyde, electric orange

Heart Note: metallic geranium, polar honey

Base Note: magnetic amber, ethereal musk, attractive patchouli

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Life is good!

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THIS IS NOT A BLUE BOTTLE: easy, versatile, delightful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS IS NOT A BLUE BOTTLE: Pierre de Nishapur

BOTTOM LINE: This is Not a Blue Bottle may be a concept perfume, but beyond the concept, the fragrance itself is a nice and easy to wear and pleasant every day perfume. In other words, This is Not a Blue Bottle is a no muss, no fuss perfume with an added dose of great positive energy. As an added bonus, the pricing is perfection!

Bone Rating: 3 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental
Nose: Gerald Ghislain and Julien Rasquinet
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $35 for .5 oz. or $105 for 2 oz.

Sample courtesy of Histoires de Parfums

February 1, 2016
by The Scented Hound 6 Comments

Ex Nihilo Venenum Kiss

WHAT I SMELL: Venenum Kiss (poison kiss) opens with a saffron laden ripened fruit. The perfume is fleshy and thick, and it feels like fruit that’s ready to fall off the limb of a tree with the weight of the rotting juice. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just very narcotic and rather fermented. Or in other words, it is forbidden-fruit in the best sense of the word. Overall, the perfume is warm, radiant and seductive. And as the perfume develops, the rose and the sandalwood come forward with a soured and sharpened melding of forces. What once was more seductive and fruited, is now more of a poisoned arrow; still beautiful and seductive, but it feels more deadly. As the perfume continues to morph, the sharpened edges soften, but not by much as the vanilla base continues to provide a sweetened, oudish bounty of menace. And in the end, it’s all topped off with a bit of incense, making it all so very seductive.

From the Ex Nihilo website:

VENENUM KISS, a sensual and sophisticated liquor with hints of candied apricot and vanilla.

The strong and intense feel of an electric night in the Orient…
The women are wearing their evening perfume, in their wakes, a veritable storm of scents.
Wherever you go at night, you succumb to this same hypnotic smell.

TOP: Neroli, Saffron, Nutmeg

HEART: Rose absolute, Davana, Amber

BASE: Vanilla, Styrax, Sandalwood

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The sin of desire.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE VENENUM KISS: sinful, dangerous, fleshy

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VENENUM KISS: Colognoisseur

BOTTOM LINE: Venenum Kiss is named perfectly. The perfume is decadent, poisonous and it feels predatory and rather deadly. It also reminds me a bit of Armani Prive’ Cuir Noir, except that Venenum Kiss feels a lot more dangerous and over the top. Venenum Kiss is NOT an office scent and it would have to be worn on just the right occasion. Perfect when you want to bring out your deviled horns.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental
Nose: Quentin Bisch
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $225 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum.

Sample courtesy of Lucky Scent.

January 27, 2016
by The Scented Hound 15 Comments

Vanille Charnelle by Les Absolus d’ Annick Goutal

WHAT I SMELL: Vanille Charnelle opens with a sparkling pepper which is soon met with a vanilla gourmand rather almond-ish ylang-ylang. It’s sweet without being sugary and it smells like a baking rack full of cooling almond cookies. But there’s a bit of sour from either the ylang-ylang or the tonka that keeps the perfume from being too confectionary. The opening had me a bit worried that the perfume was going to rise up and scream. But thankfully, after a few minutes the fragrance begins to contain itself. The vetiver begins to come forward and with it comes a welcomed reedy woodiness that begins to dry out the vanilla. But even as it continues to dry out, the vanilla almond is front and center; albeit less sugared. After some time, the perfume journeys into a more floral realm and moves from gourmand to oriental. It really is beautiful in a richly opulent and exotic way. The notes are beefy and amped up and what was turning dry becomes ripened. Vanille Charnelle then moves to a decaying spiced floral that’s wrapped up in vanilla.

Top notes are ylang-ylang and pepper; middle notes are vanilla, tonka bean and white musk; base notes are vanilla absolute and vetiver.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: There’s something very nostalgic and 1970s about this perfume…very Annie Hall.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE VANILLE CHARNELLE: charming, noticable, sentimental

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VANILLE CHARNELLE: Fashion for Lunch, Perfume Shrine, Alice in Beautyland

BOTTOM LINE: Vanille Charnelle is a wonderfully spiced floral vanilla perfume the makes me want to reach for my tweed jacket. A little of the perfume goes a long way, so when spritzing, do sparingly.

Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Oriental Floral
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $280 for 75 ml eau de parfum

Sample courtesy of Lucky Scent.