Il Mondo di Odore

Bergamot, Lemon, Lavender, Sage, Nutmeg, Spices. White Jasmine, Carnation, Geranium, Rose. Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber, Vanilla, Leather. Trumper's rendition of sandalwood is interesting to say the least. On one hand, the sandal is displayed austerely, yet surrounded by a creamy, barbershop texture. The sandalwood note pops, as there is no mistaking it, but the supporting cast is just as good and together, they perform their respective roles admirably. Linear, full, woody and creamy, Trumper's Sandalwood manages just the right volume of Van-Amber. Never does this get too sweet, but instead it augments the sandal note wonderfully. I reviewed this back in 2009 and when I re-read it, it felt like I posted the review in haste. I liked the scent then as I do now, but a more worthwhile opinion is warranted. If one has a soft spot for sandalwood, there's a good chance you will find Trumper's version a nice wear. It leans masculine due to the implementation of Sage a...

Green Tea, Bitter Orange, Green Apple, Aquatic Spices. Lavender, Cedar, Tonka Bean. Musk, Moss, Vetiver. I picked up a NIB 100ml. a few weeks ago at TJMAXX for approximately $5. Those who read my opinions must know by now that I'm going into this wearing assuming it will suck the big Wazoo. It's huge and blue, costs peanuts and it's been on their shelf for quite a spell. Hell, even the folks who gravitate towards the generic and innocuous have seemingly shunned this to sit and accumulate dust. Thinking about that as I purchased it didn't bode too well, but the worst case scenario is that I'm out $5 for a minute. My initial wearing had me apply this with trepidation. I genuinely thought it would be an instantaneous scrubber. Now, to leap forward and inform you that it wasn't nearly that bad or painful is only fair before I continue. NBA opens as a very conventional contemporary scent. It's completely unoffensive and while exhibiting that chemical ...

Bergamot, Mandarin Oil, Clary Sage Absolute, Pepperwood, Jasmine, Saffron, Pomerose, Violet, Musk, Leather, Tonka Bean, Australian Coachwood. I wish I had the responsibility of naming creatively blended notes. "Pepperwood, Pomerose and Coachwood" are not bad, but I would make sure the names I gave were completely absurd, catchy and of course misleading. Oh wait.......that job is already occupied by numerous folks. Okay, okay........I'm not bitchin.......I just really wish I had their job !!! I could be just as good at misnaming as they are, probably better if I focused on it. At any rate, kudos to the ones that have the good fortune of getting paid for naming the notes in accords. It's my dream job that will never come to fruition unless of course, I go through the expense of having a fragrance made, marketed and distributed; all contingent on me having final say on names. Cereus No.7 opens up on my skin showcasing violet. Perhaps I am more sensitive than othe...

Artemesia, Bergamot, Tarragon, Mint, Juniper, Juniper. Carnation, Jasmine, Marjoram, Patchouli, Pepper, Rose. Amber, Leather, Musk, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Cedar, Vetiver, Myrrh, Civet. The first thing I noticed while wearing this version of Burberrys is its kinship to the original Gucci pour Homme from 1976. I won't drone on about it, but it's there and if you have both, please compare. What is truly confusing about "Burberrys" is that there is one that preceded the 1981 release, has the same name but resides in a different shaped bottle. The ones that came after 1981 (to me ) are just as confusing, but I'm getting off track here. This "type" of classically constructed masculine gives me the feeling that I should be wearing it on a cool, crisp night. It's formal if anything and doesn't posses a frivolous bone in its substantially limpid body. It leans mature for sure, but dated it is not. This is like other "classics" that defy ...

Orange Blossom, Bergamot, Pear Blossom, Tuberose, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Orris Root, Musk, Rosewood, Wood Notes. Here we have a surprisingly pleasant feminine scent that escaped me until I stumbled across it at my local TJMAXX. I blind-bought the 10ml NIB women's version of New York for a whopping $2.99. I figured it would disappoint, not so much due to price point, but because I've never HEARD of it. After all, how good could it be, right? It stands to reason that SOMEONE would have given a shout about this fresh, woody floral. Perhaps they did and I just wasn't listening. I also could have been preoccupied pondering why most car salesmen are on the road to perdition.  Hell, I could have been wearing this and enjoying myself and to hell with car dealerships. Having worn, owned and liked the men's version, New York for Women doesn't disappoint. One note I get that's not listed is Freesia. I have a soft spot for that note in most any composition, so once agai...

This is a sincere wish for everyone to experience a terrific Christmas and upcoming New Years !!!!! This hobby, as fun and amusing as it can be at times, is no match for the important things in life. Health, family and all around prosperity-well being is what I wish comes to pass for all who stop by this site. Thank all of you for being interested enough to read the musings of this fragrance lover. Allow me to shout out a Holiday Greeting to all those on the Parfumo and Basenotes websites. May you all have a safe and enjoyable week. A thank you to both sites as well, as they harbor extremely good and knowledgeable members. I owe a debt to both and am grateful to both as well. A tip of my cap to Don and Grant for their vision and willingness to perpetuate their respective sites.

Have you ever run into a fragrance that, once you wore it once, maybe even twice, you simply didn't give a rat's %$# what the accords consisted of?  You don't often hear me denigrate a fragrance because I try to find "some" redeeming traits in all of them, if at all possible. Well, Guess for Men by Marciano has succeeded in nudging me over to the dark side. Years ago, there was a song by ( I believe ) Randy Newman called "Short people have no reason to live". Naturally, it was tongue in cheek, controversial and amusing. It has me pondering whether Guess for Men should indeed have a reason to exist. Wearing, smelling and then trying to muster the energy for analyzing what I just sprayed on my skin is a frustrating deal. I'm not inspired enough to even research what they "claim" are the listed notes. I experience a short lived citric-marine-ozone concoction that quickly evolves into a musty, peppery musk. Perhaps it's my skin, b...

Cardamom, Blackberry, Pear, Grapefruit, Ginger. Rosemary, Juniper Berry, Apricot. Guaiac, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Amber. Some of the enjoyment I derive from trying contemporary releases stems from the price point I usually find them for and that they are in my locale. It's cheap, convenient and the most I have to lose is a little free time and a few dollars. Even the ones I find unsatisfying aren't really a financial loss. I can always flip them "used" on ebay ( eventually ) and get some ( if not all ) of it back. What I have to gain is the obvious; scoring a cheap, underrated and under appreciated fragrance for peanuts. Drifter falls in the "gain" category, although I don't consider it a terrific scent. It's simply good for it's price and that's good enough for me. The totality of its heart and base afford me a musk quality, while the opening has me believing I'm experiencing mandarin. Neither are listed, but that means absolute...

Geranium, Rose, Orris Root, Patchouli, Gaiac Wood, Cedar, Coumarin, Labdanum, Vanilla, Musk. There's a slightly different twist on Alyssa Ashley's rendition of Patchouli than others of this genre I have smelled. The ratio of Orris, Coumarin and Geranium give it that something "extra and different" to set it apart. It's just enough to distance itself from the rest of the pack. The initial application makes you realize that this is Patch, but rendered sideways. Mrs. Aromi, in her infinite fragrance wisdom, declared it to smell like.......(with furrowed brows) "In your face.......powerful.......STUFF"...........As usual, my better half dislikes it immensely...........and that means I'll probably either like it or love it. In this case however, I lean toward non-chalant "like" with "love" far away over the horizon. Essence de Patchouli is patch accented with balsamic, floral and woody tones that coexist with its inherent ear...