Histoires de Parfums Moulin Rouge 1889

Orange, Plum, Cinnamon, Absinthe, Rose, Iris, Patchouli, Musk.

I suppose I was hoping to be surprised when I chose this and placed the sample in my cart. Reading the listed notes and a smattering of reviews, I did not hold it in high regard ( blind ), but I've been known to be won over by scents that I have no anticipation for.

Moulin Rouge is feminine as expected. I wasn't exactly impressed with the Can-Can descriptions because, if it indeed smelled like the promotional filler, I would surely find it too retro for my tastes. Let's just say that Moulin Rouge straddles the fence between then and now. The opening and heart are nods to the past and the base ( at least to me ) is a bit more in keeping with current tastes.

My initial impression was that of a leather purse chock full of mascaras and tubes of assorted lipstick. The suggestion of leather is tangible, yet it's not an aspect that lasts the life of the scent. It's realized in the heart accord, then slowly succumbs to the base.

Moulin Rouge has citrus and plum listed, but for whatever reason, they never materialize on me. I don't experience a conventional opening, but instead get fast-tracked to the mid notes. It's leathery, slightly powdery with only a hint of spice. It takes about 10 minutes for a subtle, dry rose note to accentuate the femininity that is Moulin Rouge.

The heart is commendable for its longevity. The onset of the base is signaled by a slowly emerging woody musk that possesses an earthiness to it. The iris and demure rose are still manifesting themselves and I find the end of Moulin Rouge to be the most enjoyable stage of the wearings.

Moulin Rouge happens to be a well done fragrance that I don't particularly care for. Truthfully, I'm not overly fond of this genre, so I've done the best I can in reviewing this fragrance. I do however like the drydown and wouldn't mind, in the least, being next to a woman smelling like that. Sillage is good and longevity is approximately 5 hours on me. The best rating I can give is a neutral, but you may find this much more to your liking. A sample wear is definitely recommended.

Comments

La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I read many reviews before or after I do my own and I seem to be at complete odds with the house of L'Artisan. I have previously said on basenotes that for me, L'Artisan Parfumeur is the most over-rated house I have come across. La Chasse Aux Papillons Extreme does nothing to sway that opinion. Yet another linear, floral dominant scent that does nothing to stir me up or inspire me in any way. This house has "pleasant" nailed down to an art form......but damn...can't we go beyond that? The only attempt at polarization so far has been Dzongkha ....and I found it a jumbled mess. At these prices, move me, anger me, hate me.......but please don't bore me. Extreme in a nutshell is a toned down tuberose with assorted "blossom" thrown in the mix. Is it bad? No, it's an acceptable floral scent that's very timid and just lays on my skin smelling like....well....a toned down version of tuberose with blossom this or that added to it. I'm almost a...

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

Chanel copying Guerlain. Why?

Last month, I had the pleasure of trying Comète by Chanel, the latest addition to their prestigious Les Exclusifs line. This fragrance follows the release of Le Lion in 2020, another standout in the same collection. Like Le Lion , Comète is a beautiful perfume that captures the essence of Chanel’s refined elegance. However, both fragrances bear a striking resemblance to classic creations by Guerlain, leading me to ponder the direction Chanel is taking. Chanel has a great fragrance history. Not as hallowed and old as Guerlain but for past three decades it has far outshone Guerlain. In my view, no other perfume house has come close to Chanel’s excellence in this century. This makes their recent approach of echoing Guerlain classics somewhat perplexing. Have they run out of fresh ideas? Is Roger Dove at the helm of their fragrance division, or have they perhaps...

Il Mondo di Odore

Search This Blog