unisex | The Scented Hound

September 7, 2015
by The Scented Hound 4 Comments

Tigre du Bengale by Malbrum

WHAT I SMELL: Tigre du Bengale opens with a sweetened juniper which very quickly moves into a lightly incensed and peaceful labdanum. I was expecting a leap from a tiger at first application. Instead, the perfume moves in like a cat ready to lie down for a nap; all comfy and cozy. The perfume is relatively close to the skin and a bit powdery, but as it starts to develop it becomes a bit more exotic with a slightly urinous note that sharpens the original softness, but not too much. There’s a light leather note that wraps itself around the perfume, just as this strange dirty feet smell comes into play. Thankfully, it’s not overpowering, but it does add a bit of funk to the mix. Soon enough that bit of funk exits the mix and the perfume becomes more woody, with just a lightly sweetened edge of patchouli. And it once again moves from a bit of sharp to the more serene and smoky. And as soon as I say that, a salty note enters along with a light cream. Wait….now we’re back to a serene and smoky dry leather. It seems that there a lot of twists and turns with Tigre du Bengale, and there are, but these twists and turns morph and change like the walk of a jungle cat, slow and steady with in an incredible prowl.

From the Malbrum website:

The Bengal tiger uses its claws to barkstrip trees and urinates on the pile of woodchips as a monument of territory. The scent of this tribute transmits highly complex messages to other tigers about its sex, size and social status. This spicy leather fragrance opens with a dry-aromatic “coke” accord, gradually turning into a liquorice accord, with the heart of myrrha and labdanum absolute leading to a soft erogenous balsamic dry down.

Synthetic notes:

Toscanol, Safranal, Nimberol, Ambrofix and Suederal

Head: Juniper, cardamom,

Heart: Myrrha, labdanum

Fond: Castoreum, burley tobacco, patchouli

Gloria Swanson 1920s

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Tigre du Bengale is less tiger, but more vamp.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE TIGRE DU BENGALE: sultry, mysterious, come-hither

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TIGRE DU BENGALE: Colognoisseur, What Men Should Smell Like, CaFleureBon

BOTTOM LINE: Tigre du Bengale is one of those perfumes that each time I bring my wrist to my nose it smells different. Sometimes, it smells more like incense, other times it’s more leather. At other times it’s a bit sweetened. In any case, the drydown is a winner and I can see this being a perfect fall and winter fragrance. And maybe come the cool months, the tiger stripes will once again change and morph into something else that I have yet to experience.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Aromatic Spicy
Nose: Delphine Thierry
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $170 for 30 ml parfum extrait

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary

August 31, 2015
by The Scented Hound 10 Comments

Byredo Gypsy Water

WHAT I SMELL: Gypsy Water opens with a glaze of lemon tinged juniper and pine, almost like that of Lemon Pledge, but with a sweeter vanilla finish which takes it from Lemon Pledge to more of a lemon custard. After a short time, the perfume begins to soften and them lemon becomes light and tart and slightly sour with addition of a quiet incense and wood. I was expecting Gypsy Water to be a lively and phrenetic fragrance, but instead, it’s rather subdued and unassuming. After around 20 minutes, the pine, amber and sandalwood come together to provide for a creamy, but lightly incensed powdered warmth. In the end, Gypsy Water is a lightly warmed quiet woody perfume, that although unassuming, is rather mysterious.

From the Byredo website:

GYPSY WATER IS A GLAMORIZATION OF THE ROMANY LIFESTYLE, BASED ON A FASCINATION WITH THE MYTH. THE SCENT OF FRESH SOIL, DEEP FORESTS AND CAMPFIRES EVOKES THE DREAM OF A FREE, COLORFUL LIFESTYLE CLOSE TO NATURE.

TOP: BERGAMOT, LEMON, PEPPER, JUNIPER BERRIES
HEART: INCENSE, PINE NEEDLES, ORRIS
BASE: AMBER, VANILLA, SANDALWOOD

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A warm breeze lilting through the forest.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE GYPSY WATER: quiet, comforting, peaceful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT GYPSY WATER: Perfume Posse, What Men Should Smell Like, Katie Puckrik Smells

BOTTOM LINE: Gypsy Water doesn’t have a lot of projection, but is instead a really nice skin scent that is unique with its citrus and woody incense combination. It’s perfect for the office, or for those quiet days when you want to feel special just for yourself and no one else.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Woody Aromatic
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $145 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum

August 24, 2015
by The Scented Hound 3 Comments

New Release: One Night in Rio

WHAT I SMELL: One Night in Rio opens with a luscious sweet and juicy passion fruit; like a bowl full of fruit and melon goodness, so ripe and with just picked freshness. Quickly a dash of pepper comes to sit on top of the fruit extracting the almost too much fruity juicy goodness to more of an exotic spiced cocktail. The perfume rapidly starts to dry and moves from fruity to floral. The florals are pretty, very sexy and round and robust…but still topped with a grounded pepper. After around 10 minutes, the vanilla slowly enters giving the perfume a slightly sweetened tinge. Add to that a light coconut and waxy suntan lotion note and the perfume now makes you feel that you’re walking along the beach at Impanema. One Night in Rio is interesting in that it lives in this other worldly state of sweet and spice, floral and pepper; which means that the perfume is completely and utterly exotic.

From from the A Lab on Fire website:

Passion Fruit Pillow

Night air strokes skin, cheek against shoulder, neck bare. Night air against curved back, touched gently, a new love—his open-armed embrace. Music catches up to you and everyone is dancing, the road is dancing, the cars are dancing. Guarded by its jungled hills, their wide leaves too green, night sky too blue, the city pools. Immerse yourself. Spread your arms out, lithe and swaying. The music plays inside you. Bright street, dark alley. One night to discover a delicate moment in full bloom.

Top~ black pepper, neroli, Mid~ passion fruit, tiare flower, magnolia, Dry~ musk, white amber, vanilla bean

The original Latina Bombshell – Diosa Costello

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: The perfume is modern, yet very nostalgic…and invokes visions of a Latina Bombshell surrounded by big print 1940’s upholstery.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ONE NIGHT IN RIO: sexy, easy, lively

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ONE NIGHT IN RIO: I was unable to find any other reviews, except for a few comments on Fragrantica.

BOTTOM LINE: One Night in Rio is developed by A Lab on Fire, but is being released as “unbranded.” I’m not sure what that’s all about and does it really matter? The fact is that One Night in Rio is a fun and sexy perfume to remind you that even though it’s going to start getting colder soon in the northern hemisphere, you can always head down to Rio for a little summer fun.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
Scent: Floral Fruity
Nose: Jean-Marc Chaillan
Classification: Unisex
Expense: $110 for 60 ml Eau de Parfum

Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary