Il Mondo di Odore

Ah yes.......L'Artisan Parfumeur, my favorite whipping post. Okay, that's harsh albeit very true in my case. I continue to be extremely underwhelmed by this house and its subtleties seem to be lost on me. It doesn't matter that Giacobetti is behind Fou d'Absinthe. There's nothing here that hasn't been done before and better. Clove, ginger, nutmeg and pepper are the stars in this one on my skin. There are other culprits, but these players get the limelight. The totality is an inconspicuous scent that won't raise any eyebrows. It's pleasant...almost generic in its spiciness with an underlying soapy note that eventually takes the reigns. In no stage of wearing Fou d'Absinthe did I find it loud. If anything, the wearing was like a murmur and I waited patiently for it to raise its voice a notch. I should have worn a hearing aid. Considering the price point of this house, I cannot recommend it as a whole or steer anyone to this particular fragrance. Th...

Hmmmmm........As soon as I sprayed Anne Pliska on my skin, I had dejavu. I was searching for a mental recall on where I smelled this before and then PRESTO ! Obsession ! Really?......... I continued thinking this smells exactly like Obsession ( strictly from memory of course) and then I thought, "I forgot how nice Obsession smells". So, after 10 minutes or so, I went and retrieved my weird, oval vintage splash bottle of Obsession and did a side by side. It turns out the Pliska isn't as sharp as the C.K. and ( at least on me) isn't as loud either. What they have in common is the very obvious and dominant amber note. Generally speaking, there's a strong similarity, but Anne Pliska is the superior fragrance out of the two. Obsession may be it's extroverted and crass cousin for sure, but one can tell within 15 minutes of a comparison that Anne Pliska is a more upscale rendition of amber, vanilla and bit of bite. It settles down and let's you wear it as opp...

Who knows how many times I may have smelled this 1982 Armani offering on the female persuasion. Sampling it as I am, it has an air of familiarity and it also effortlessly telegraphs quality to those in smelling distance. This is a chypre with a dominant floral theme. It is complex, rich and has a sheen about it that you won't find in modern, feminine chypres. Armani opens aldehydic with a smidgeon of zest. There's green mixed in with the citric accord that works rather well. What I find really interesting is the contrast of Marigold and Pineapple as well in the top accord. A little bitter and a little sweet all blended to perfection. The rose and tuberose in the heart are yet another rendition I find to my liking. These two are apparent, yet the volume is perfect and the ingredients have to be top shelf to smell like this. This is very good juice indeed. There's an assist from jasmin and orris but the entire floral heart is smooth with a capital "S". The dry...