Il Mondo di Odore

I always enjoy going back and reviewing an old school fragrance after perusing through niche releases. There's something to be said about diversity. My thanks go out to Sugandaraja for sending me this in his sample package.......even if it was for comic relief !!! I cannot recall if I ever wore this years ago. Chances are that I have at least tried it, but memory simply doesn't serve. It's just as well since it makes my sample wearing that much more uncluttered by predisposed notions. This sample wearing is for the Aftershave/Cologne splash and NOT the Cologne Spray. I cannot tell you what the differences may be except the perception that the Cologne Spray MAY BE more concentrated. It stands to reason it would be.......but as of right now, I cannot say for sure. At any rate, I transferred the splash into an atomizer and applied 3 liberal sprays to my hand. My first thought was ......"Spicy and classic....dated in a very good way.....hhhmmmm......how has this esca...

Have you ever sample worn a scent multiple times that is well made, rich and long lasting.......yet......didn't like anything about it? Eau D'Epices is that fragrance for me. I will however give it props for excellent longevity. The opening is an amalgamation of suede,coriander,clove,orange and a dash of cinnamon. I won't go as far to say it's off putting, but it's close. The texture is full bodied and I like how it's constructed, but the scent itself isn't pleasing to me at all. There's too much of a mish-mash here that doesn't quite gel like it should. Within 10 minutes, the background violet and jasmin are introduced. They do nothing to accomplish cohesiveness and the result is more of the same. Even so, the quality of ingredients and blending is readily apparent, making this creation a frustrating wear for me. I can smell the effort that went into this, yet the end result doesn't work....at least for me that is. The drydown takes an imp...

Ah.......the fanfare that this house causes is amusing. Even more amusing to me is a fragrance that is a quality creation and fails to move me. Enter Amouage Gold Man. From the very beginning, Gold Man introduces itself in a conservative fashion. Other reviewers have stated the powerhouse nature of the scent, yet I don't find it outspoken. The essence is full bodied, but the conglomeration of notes used here never exceed an intelligent volume. For whatever reason, I feel ambivalent towards this scent. You can smell that it's well made and blended, but I want a fragrance called Gold Man to be provocative at the very least. Gold Man opens with a duo of Rose and Muguet on me. There's a hint of frankincense coupled with the floral component and the accord is very smooth to say the least. I like the way the rose is restrained here and there's just enough of it to peek through and let you know it's there. After 15 minutes, a subtle musk makes an appearance and it to...

Allow me to thank my fellow blogger Sug for sending me Luxe Patchouli  along with numerous other goodies recently. I had been meaning to get around to this one and was excited to see it in the sample package. No sooner it hit my skin, I got confused and thought....." Is this Sables"? I had to look at the vial again to make sure. I was immediately hit with Immortelle and the good ole maple syrup note. Either Immortelle is a very dominating note or it's simply implemented in a strong fashion here remains a mystery to me. I make no claims on being intimate with fenugreek, but I do know it's similar in aroma to Immortelle. Both have that syrupy aura bordering on slightly burnt and wispy smoke. As I waited on other notes to make a transitionary appearance, I decided to look up the accords: Pepper, Fenugreek, Lovage, Oak, Opoponax, Patchouli, Cedar, Vanilla, Vetiver. This is what comprises Luxe Patchouli, yet after 30 minutes, I'm still getting nothing but syrup...

After hearing all the reviews about MKK's severely animalic and sweaty musk, I purchased a small decant to try for myself. The decant sat untried for the past few months, but inspired by a recent "skankfest" synchronized scent day on Basenotes, I decided to take that genie out of the bottle. That didn't happen quite as planned. (stick with me here, I'm getting round to the MKK in a bit.) That morning, I'd put on Guerlain Samsara , which is one of my favorite Guerlains, as it is to me the louder sister of Mitsuoko (my FAVORITE Guerlain) - Samsara is the sister who loves incense with her fruit and vanilla. The day was filled with scented "accidents" because I'd just opened a new hair product that I spritzed on, on the way out the door for work, and realized that the "citrus sunset" scent of this product clashed horribly with the Samsara... a combination of too much nectarine and pink coral flower and whatever passes for "fragrance...

WARNING : For those who's proclivities are to simply dabble with diluted patchouli fragrances, there may be repercussions. Side effects include potential vomiting and penile shrinkage whilst 2.5 women out of 800 actually grew one. Ah.........patchouli..........one of my favorite notes.....and probably one of the most misused in all of fragrancedom. With a name like Patchouli Noir, it was simply a matter of time before I got hold of some in order to sample wear it at the very least. This scent is like beauty and the beast with the brute being introduced first. Fear not however......it is a changeling that morphs into a more docile and seductive animal. I am fascinated with patchouli and it started in 1977. I had a ( non amorous) interaction in the fall of 77 with a nurse who was wearing a fragrance that smelled divine to me. All she told me, after I asked of course, was that she was wearing patchouli. Since then, patch has had a place in my pleasure center that continues to this...

It's been awhile since I had time to review a backlog of samples. We have all been ( at one time or another) shorthanded at work and been elected to plug the hole until a new hire is brought in. All I have to say is "THANK GOD" !!! It's pretty bad when you don't even have energy for the wild thing with your better half. Anyway......I finally have a few days off. After spending yesterday ( my first day off in 3 weeks) vegetating on the couch, drinking beer, eating way too much and watching my Phillies lose to San Francisco, I woke up today with an agenda. I have to package up samples I promised people and to at least review one fragrance. That scent happens to be Ararat by Parfumerie Naturelle. I know nothing about this house or it's other release. I chose this while ordering samples for a friend a few weeks back. The notes looked intriguing and after wearing Ararat for a half hour, I have to say it's a pleasing scent that definitely falls into the shar...

I am happy to have another go at the Opus series, courtesy of "Mimi the Terrible"....lol..... After numerous tries with Opus 1 and being satisfied that it is an excellent fragrance, I am sampling Opus II in the hopes of not only the opportunity to review it, but that it would be a suitable wear for me since #1 was a bit too feminine for my tastes. So......here I am ready to discuss #2 in the Opus lineup. The opening of Opus II is just as good as #1. There's a transparent "fullness" to both, in spite of them being different fragrances. Opus II is a bit lighter in the projection and also a bit more masculine in aura. The top accord is a melding of mild lavender with a bite from pepper. There's also a spicy wood note apparent from the initial spray that's well mannered and very appropriate. I like it very much due to the cardamon sneaking up from the heart and embellishing the first few minutes of Opus II. The heart isn't nearly as bold as Opus 1....

First off, a big Thank You to my friend Mimi for yet another generous sample package sent my way ! You are terrific Mims and so is your taste in fragrances. Since my dear friend sent me samples of Opus I, II and III, I must begin with Opus 1 and see if the creations meet my expectations. That may sound a bit arrogant, but I have high hopes for these releases and want them to deliver. As luxurious as this house is, there has been some near misses along with the opulence. Opus I starts off with an impressive opening volley of notes. They blanket you and emit that smooth denseness I look for. The top smells like nothing I have encountered before. I wouldn't say it's incendiary, but it's very good.. The listed Bigarade, Plum and Cardamon are excellent together and seem to mushroom outward with exceptional projection. The floral heart develops rather quickly, but on me, the top still manages to stay afloat the sweet heart accord. The florals are very clean, sweet and trans...