Skip to main content

Aleksandr by Arquiste

Neroli, Fir Balsam, Violet, Leather.

This is the 2nd release from this house I've sampled in the last few months. I must reiterate about linearity and price point, but will say that Aleksandr is a nice perfume overall.

The opening volley of Violet upon Orange is rather good. What makes this top accord work for me is that the Violet rendition isn't acute. I've remarked before that the violet note can be sharp and cutting, but in Aleksandr, it's voluptuous without being ingratiating. If anything, it's implemented pleasantly.

After the opening subsides some, a very low current green and new shoe quality begin to infiltrate the accord. This isn't a conventional "leather" that realizes on my skin, but maybe it will have more clarity on yours. The green aspect also doesn't smell like the fir note I've become accustomed to. It's as though it were far away, yet you can still identify leaf and stem.

Aleksandr, in spite of its name, leans feminine during my wearings. It isn't overt, but enough so that I wouldn't decide to wear it over the numerous other frags there are to choose from. However, I'm quite certain that this would smell very good on the feminine persuasion.

Sillage is acceptable and longevity is approximately 5 hours on my skin. Aleksandr never transitions into anything other than what is described; even in extended drydown. A neutral rating from Aromi for Aleksandr by Arquiste and a sample wear is highly recommended in lieu of a blind purchase.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Newport by Caswell Massey

Bergamot, Mandarin, Lemon, Lavender, Geranium, Muguet, Rose, Ambergris, Cedar, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk. After wearing Newport by Caswell Massey a few times and then reading what others had to say about this recent formulation, I found some of the opinions harsh. I have no way to compare it to the heralded vintage formula, nor can I use memory as I've never tried the original. Enter the current version. I do agree with some reviews that this rendition does not bring about the sense of beach and salt, but there's a long line of fragrances that fail to represent their depictions. However, Newport isn't so far off the mark that it's a complete misrepresentation. I can imagine wearing Newport ( or something similar ) in a beach setting. It smells classic due to the way Citrus, Lavender and Geranium are implemented. It's assuredly retro, but it seems to have that intangible I like that keeps me sniffing. Newport, at least on my skin, is top heavy in the sens...

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...

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...