October Sample Haul

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I test a lot of samples, so I thought I'd give you some brief impressions on a monthly basis.

d'Annam Japanese Whiskey

Whiskey, Clary Sage, Oak, Barley, Chestnut, Sandalwood

I've tried Japanese whiskey--Suntori--but it was a while ago and I don't remember what it smells like. Maybe it smells like clary sage and barley with a slightly creamy sandalwood nuttiness? It's nice, but I'll echo the main complaint: nobody needs 150ml at $380. 

D.S. & Durga Cognac Reign

Caramelized Bergamot, Orris Absolute, Orris Concrete, Cognac, Tonka, Cognac Barrel Accord

Somewhat boozy, lightly sweet iris and tonka scent with a woody backdrop. It's delicious, and a full bottle is in my future.

Regime des Fleurs 

I hadn't tried any by this company before, but these two intrigued me. I preferred Green Vanille over Blood Spider Orchids, but not enough to shell out $275 for 75ml.

Green Vanille

Chamomile, Hazelnut, Almond Milk, Vanilla, Coriander, Benzoin, Atlas Cedar, Sandalwood, 

Haitian Vetiver

Normally I stay away from scents with a hazelnut note because I have found several of them rather sickening. This one, however, is quite nice and rather short lived. The rest of the opening is great, a bit green, some coziness, and a smell not unlike the very addictive Carmex lip balm. It dries down to a balsamic vanilla with some woods and spice. I wish I had a spray instead of a dabber of this; dabbing makes it wear too close to the skin and I practically had to snort my wrist to get a whiff. Pretty nice, but out of my price range. 

Blood Spider Orchids
Cinnamon, Clove, Tonka Bean, Frankincense, Benzoin, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Cedarwood

This reminds me of stepping into the old hippie candle/incense/mineral shop that used to be on Read Street in Baltimore. It smelled of perfumed incense--those little burnable cones or sticks of stuff that smelled of jasmine or spices, not actual frankincense. It also smells a bit like apple pie. It's pleasant, somewhat Christmassy, but there's a dusty powderiness that I'm not loving. Not as fantastic as the name would imply.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.

A NY Sniffari - Part Three

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Explanatory paragraph, in case you just came in: I live in Baltimore, where there are few places to buy niche or high end fragrance, so when I go to NYC, I go a little wild. On this particular three day trip in January 2025, I went a lot wild. Read Part One here and Part Two here.

After a huge plate of scrambled eggs with shiitakes at The Harold, my favorite breakfast spot, I journeyed to SoHo to hit up the various fragrance boutiques that have been popping up like mushrooms. First stop: Penhaligon's. I sought a sample of A Kiss of Bliss, which from previous sniffings I believed I liked. I didn't think such a simple task would be so time-consuming and ultimately for naught. The store had just received a large shipment of stock, including samples, all of which needed to be added to inventory before my request could be filled. I spent almost an hour there, sniffing and chatting desultorily with one of the SAs--who had a heavy European accent and was hard to understand--until I had sample in hand. Kinda put me off the brand, to tell the truth. Not sure I'll go back to the boutique, though I had been excited to see Penhaligon's return to NY. (Turns out A Kiss of Bliss is a bit cloying on my skin, and I'm so glad I didn't buy it after only one testing.)

Next was Commodity, where I had a much better experience. The guy running the show there--Bryson--was friendly and knowledgeable and I left happy, with a travel spray of Gold + and samples of Milk, Gold, and Book in the "expressive" formula. No fuss, no muss, and I'll happily return to spend more time sniffing their Archive fragrances. 

I noticed a clothing shop called And Other Stories that I knew sold fragrance, so I stopped to browse. The clothes seem worth rummaging through (next time) but the scents were all meh. Then it was on to D.S. & Durga. I was on a mission to smell Wear at Maximum Volume, a Liberty of London exclusive that was available for a limited time in the US. The Soho shop had a tester, with which I spritzed my wrist. I liked it right away, but chose to wander around the neighborhood a bit before making a purchase. Only one bottle remained from the 100 that were made for the US market, and it was at the Madison Avenue shop. As I had a train to catch and little time (and no desire) to travel up and down the city, I arranged to have it shipped to me. It arrived the next day--NY high-end shop customer service is really the best.

I wandered across the street to Osswald to see if they had received Bohoboco Polish Potatoes yet, and they had not. I sniffed a couple of things, then left after the SA's unpleasant comments about a fragrance line I enjoy. They are new and Osswald is the only retailer that carries them, AFAIK. He said their scents were "trash," which was cruel and completely untrue, and I told him that. I wonder if I should say something to the brand? Though I left without purchasing anything, I did pick up a follower--a young woman who had been in Commodity, who appeared at Osswald just before I left. 

After a brief walk, I stopped into a Korean shop called Elorea that not only sells perfume but also has a coffee shop in the back. I fell in love with their Water scent, a beautiful floral white musk. I didn't buy it (yet) but I took home a well-sprayed blotter. (At this writing, two weeks later, the fragranced blotter is still going strong.) I also enjoyed a black sesame latte and a much-needed sit-down. As I left, I told my follower that I'd see her at Stele, which I assumed was next on her tour of fragrance shops...

...and indeed it was. The Stele on Mott Street is a sister shop to the one in Brooklyn, and each has its own inventory. I was hoping to sniff some Mabelle O'Rama and Melissa Zappas, but those scents are currently available in Brooklyn. Still, I had a nice time wandering around the new space, petting the doggo, and talking with owner Jake. I'll definitely put Stele on my regular sniffing agenda, as they have some brands that I haven't seen elsewhere.

Finally, I stopped into Granado for a quick looksee at their line. I did have that train to catch, so no time for actually spraying and sniffing, but I took a quick tour of bottle caps and vowed to be back next time.

Commodity Gold +

Amber, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Iso E Super, Saffron, Patchouli, Nutmeg

I love amber fragrances and own quite a few. This might have catapulted itself to the top of the list, or at least very near the top. It might be a tad sweeter than I normally prefer, but it's lovely. I wish the saffron note lasted longer than it does, but it's pleasingly not at all iodine-y. It lends a golden light to the scent that is otherwise very warm and cozy.

D.S. & Durga Wear at Maximum Volume 

Silk, Mandarin, Pepper, English Rose, Violet, Egyptian Jasmine, Patchouli, Moss, Amber

The On the Scent podcast strikes again! Several of my recent fragrance purchases have been quite influenced by Suzy and Nicola; they've convinced me to try scents that I normally wouldn't sniff. Rosy chypres are definitely on that list, as I'm not a huge fan of either roses or chypres. However, the disappearance of oakmoss in most modern chypre formulations has made them far more palatable for me. At least that's the thing to which I'm attributing the sudden appearance of chypres in my fragrance collection. The "silk" note is very much a sensation that brings to mind a lovely blouse--in my mind it's a warm grey color--light and cool against skin that's been spritzed with a bit of citrus cologne over a dusting of rosy powder. The other floral notes are present, but gently so. The patchouli note in the drydown is very much like the one in D.S. & Durga's Pistachio, which I adore. Apart from the patch, Wear at Maximum Volume is a scent that I normally wouldn't enjoy. So why do I love it?

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.

A NY Sniffari - Part Two

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Explanatory paragraph, in case you just came in: I live in Baltimore, where there are few places to buy niche or high end fragrance, so when I go to NYC, I go a little wild. On this particular three day trip in January 2025, I went a lot wild. Read Part One here.

Tuesday was my uptown day, starting with a trip to Bloomingdale's to visit my friend Jason, who runs the Chanel counter. He did my makeup, which looked fabulous, and I purchased the foundation he used (I have always loved Chanel foundation--it has excellent coverage) and a bottle of Paris-Edimbourg EDT, which will be stunning in the warmer months. I wandered around the rest of the beauty department, checking out Le Labo, Diptyque, Byredo, and other brands. The store was surprisingly quiet, so I had the full attention of the SAs--always nice. After Bloomie's, I popped into Bergdorf's to see my friend Donna at Estee Lauder. Attention people who loved Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia - it's back, in the form of an Aerin scent. There was an old tester of the original available, so I was able to smell them side-by-side. There's a slight difference--the original seems a tad greener-- but they are otherwise extremely similar. 

Jason used to work at Saks, so I've already spent a decent amount of time exploring their beauty department. I didn't feel the need to do that on this trip, though I was curious to find out if the Celine leather goods shop on the first floor carried their line of fragrances. I have been obsessed with Saint-Germain-Des-Pres since since the moment I spritzed it on my skin. I know a lot of people like Black Tie, but that one makes me gag. Can't/won't explain it. The other scents in the line are very nice, but only SGDP captured my heart. Ordinarily I wouldn't give the time of day to a fragrance that retails for over $300 and can't be purchased from a discounter, however, I was in possession of a somewhat aged $100 Saks gift card and had finally found something on which to use it. To answer my question, YES! Celine's leather goods department does carry their fragrances, and within a few moments of walking in the door, I was leaving again with my purchase. 

I made one more fragrant stop on Tuesday evening. My lovely friend Josie, who works for Kintessence, the US-exclusive distributor of high-end lines like The Harmonist, Dusita, THoO, and Clive Christian, was doing a thing at Scentbar with BDK Parfums founder David Benedek. She is a busy lady whom I hadn't seen in a while, so Daisy Bow--one of my favorite people and regular NY dining companion--and I stopped in for a few minutes to say hi. I got swept up in the festive atmosphere of the moment and actually requested a spritz of BDK's newest, as-yet-unreleased, scent. To be very honest, I'm not a fan of the line and now I can't escape this thing. The left sleeve of my brand-new coat seems permanently scented with something that's just not to my liking. And yes, the coat has been washed since.

Celine Saint-Germain-des-Pres

Petitgrain, Neroli, Heliotrope, Orris Root, Vanilla

I ordered a discovery set after hearing about Celine's rather pricey line on my favorite podcast, On the Scent. Several of the fragrances are excellent, a couple are just ok, and another couple are really not to my liking. That includes the most-discussed scent, Black Tie. With notes of orris, musk, and vanilla, I figured that would be my favorite of the bunch, but to be very honest, it made me gag. Not sure why, but I find it unwearable. Instead, I more-characteristically succumbed to the orange blossom-y allure of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, the longest and most punctuated of Celine's perfumes. The softness of the heliotrope and orris cuts the bite of the petitgrain and neroli, making them a bit softer on the skin than would be typical. While I enjoy the opening of this fragrance, it's not what made me fall in love. That would be that long drydown, after an hour or more. At that point, the vanilla comes into play, creating a sexy, snuggly, angora sweater of a scent, magnificently fluffy and totally addictive. Heaven.

Chanel Paris - Edimbourg

Cypress, Juniper Berries, Lavender, Cedar, Vetiver, Musk, Vanilla

I'm not sure why, but rather than cypress and juniper, I get ginger. I'm not complaining--I love ginger scents. Pretty sure there's at least one kind of citrus in this, too. It's so bright and happy, yet not at all boring or pedestrian. It's a light and refreshing cologne-y fragrance that is going to get me through the heat of summer alongside my very favorite Chanel, Cristalle Eau Verte. This scent can be worn by anyone, btw, so get yourself some.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.

A NY Sniffari - Part One

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I live in Baltimore, where there are no good places to sniff perfumes. Yeah, we have Sephora, Macy's, and Nordstrom at the closest mall, but they're all pretty awful when it comes to their perfume selection. My skin doesn't like 99% of designer fragrances, and that's what these shops sell. There's a Lush, too, which I have started to frequent, but there are only so many Lush fragrances I can own. (Seven seems like a lot to me, all purchased in 2024.) When I get the opportunity to go to New York, I make a list of perfume sources, check it twice, and plan my trip. I almost always go to Bergdorf's and Saks, more to visit with friends than to actually perfume shop. One of those friends has migrated to Bloomingdale's, so I had to add that to my itinerary. Turns out, they have an excellent perfume department. It's no Barney's, but it's quite good. The last time I was in Bloomie's, years ago, I felt it was just an overpriced Macy's. Clearly things have changed, despite the store now being a Macy's property. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I was spending three days in NY, and I chose a different part of town to explore each day. On Monday, I thought I'd wander through Chelsea and Greenwich Village, at least the small part that includes fragrance shops. The Maker Hotel has a lovely line of scents, available in their shop in Chelsea. Sadly, they are closed on Monday and Tuesday, which means I'll have to save that for another visit. Odin is a men's clothing shop on Greenwich Avenue that sells their own line of fragrances. I've loved Odin 01 Sunda since I first smelled it in 2009 or 2010, back when it was still called Nomad, but I never made the purchase. It's not like I could buy it just anywhere. So I made a point to go to the shop and take 01 home with me. As it turns out, pretty much all of their fragrances are great, at least the dozen or so geared toward men. The three aimed at women are nothing special. Just down the street from Odin is a Frederic Malle boutique. I wanted to smell most of their line, but for some reason the SA ignored about half my requests. They insist on spraying the blotter for the customer, so I couldn't just grab what I wanted and do it myself. (A man with a small dog pranced in at one point, clearly wanting to spritz himself with something and leave. He threw a small tantrum when another SA came out to tell him that he wasn't allowed to touch the testers on his own.) I was rather surprised that some of their lesser-known scents, like Uncut Gem and Music For a While, are just not particularly special. Perhaps I expect too much from the line? To be very honest, I find it quite uneven. I want all of their fragrances to be masterpieces, like Musc Ravageur and Carnal Flower, but they are...not. I left with a sample of Eau d'Hiver, a light and airy scent created by Jean-Claude Ellena. It's lovely, but I feel like it is too subtle, or perhaps I simply go noseblind. Still need to test this one a bit more.

In the evening, I popped into Ulta Beauty and Macy's. Ulta had nothing worth smelling, though the SA really tried. I feel that the popular new scents rely too heavily on synthetic aroma chemicals like ethylmaltol, cashmeran, and ambroxan to evoke a sensation (sweetness, coziness, etc.) as much as an actual smell. A little goes a long way for me. Sometimes too far. So while Burberry Goddess and its ilk are decent enough fragrances, they share a sameness that I have started thinking of as the "Sephora effect." Sadly (or not), on my skin they are cheap-smelling at best. I am either lucky or unlucky in this regard.

Macy's had a fairly well-stocked Hermes counter that wasn't busy, so I took the opportunity to try their newest scent, Barenia. I did like it, but was not bowled over. I picked up a sample to try later (though I misplaced it as soon as I got home). While I was at Hermes, a gentleman who struggled a bit with the English language came over and requested help with a scent. He wanted something light, but masculine. Or so it seemed. Everything the SA handed him was too strong, even Un Jardin en Méditerranée. I suggested the original Eau des Merveilles, which earned a more positive response. However, after sniffing each of his blotters once more, he thanked us and left. As did I, a few minutes later, off to find dinner and a cocktail.

 

Odin 01 Sunda

Juniper Berries, Bergamot, Himalayan Cedar, Heliotrope, Black Pepper, Palmarosa, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Musk

Despite the list of notes reading like a typical masculine-leaning cologne, what with the juniper, cedar, and pepper, Sunda is really all about the heliotrope and tonka, the sandalwood and the musk. It's a soft, vaguely nutty, cashmere blanket of a scent. It's both creamy and powdery, and super snuggly. As it dries down, I get some pepper, at which point Sunda reminds me a wee bit of L'Artisan Poivre Piquant. So glad to finally have this one in my collection.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.

Hold the Presses! Another Christmas Scent!

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D.S. & Durga The Most Festive Cologne of All Time

Neroli, Clove Terpines, Bergamot, Pine Essence, Valencia Orange, Mandarin Flower, Pine Absolute, Cedar, Nutmeg

I sniffed 25 different fragrances and wrote four blog posts on my quest to find a new perfume for Christmas season 2024. Ultimately, I did find it: Pineward White Fir. Within days of writing that final (or so I thought) triumphant post, I received an email from D.S. & Durga announcing their limited edition holiday scent, The Most Festive Cologne of All Time. Just reading about it turned me on: three kinds of orange/orange flower notes, two types of pine, and clove and nutmeg. One of the things that attracted me most is that it's a cologne-style fragrance, rather than a heavy cold-weather scent. I didn't  have to think too much; I ordered on a Tuesday and had it in my hands on Thursday. It helped that I had a 20% off coupon burning a hole in my virtual wallet.

Let's get to the most important question: how does it smell? Exactly as one would expect. It is a typical light and bracing cologne, suitable for everyone. There are strong citrus notes in the opening, the usual bergamot, but also green neroli. As it dries down, I can smell the pine, but sadly, not much of the spices. It's also a bit musky. It's really quite nice, and long-lasting too, as it's an eau de parfum. I think it could work well layered over a heavier scent, perhaps one that is overly-spicy, like Farmacia SS. Annunziata Anniversary, or the sometimes too-sweet ELDO Divin'Enfant. I can still smell it on my clothes the next morning, when there's a bit of a vetiver-type thing going on.

The Most Festive Cologne of All Time is the perfect holiday fragrance for folks who live in hotter climes. And with climate change a real thing--despite all you science-hating deniers--we'll all be in shirtsleeves (or entirely sleeveless) on Christmas Day soon enough. And with my latest festive perfume purchase, I am now prepared for the inevitable 80° Mid-Atlantic holiday season.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.

Pistachio

A whole lotta Photoshop, a tiny bit of AI

The number of pistachio scents on the market right now is rather incredible. I have always loved the brat-green nuts and remember when they used red dye to hide the mottled markings created by the drying process on the naturally beige shells. There was no sneaking a pistachio snack in those days, as brightly stained fingers and lips were always a dead giveaway. 

Eating pistachios is as much about texture as it is about flavor. Pistachio nutmeats are generally rather small, about the size of a pinky nail. They are not hard or crisp, like an almond, pecan, walnut, or most any other nut, but give fairly easily under the pressure of a tooth. Maybe crunchy-tender is a good way to put it? Pistachios also have a thin woody membrane on the outside of the nutmeat that sometimes comes off when when the shell is removed...but mostly doesn't. Under this fine bark hides the glorious green color of the nut. The flavor of pistachios is a bit harder to pin down. They are both savory and vaguely sweet, buttery, green, and, well, nutty. They are one of my favorite nuts, and the idea of a pistachio-scented perfume turns me on. If only there was one that actually did smell of pistachio! 

D.S. & Durga Pistachio
Pistachio, Cardamom, More Pistachio, Roasted Almond, Even More Pistachio, Patchouli, Vanilla Creme

I am sitting here right now, absolutely drenched in D.S. & Durga Pistachio. I did a bit of an overspray this morning in order to really smell this stuff. It's a giant cloud hovering around me, full of honey and creamy vanilla. There's also a gorgeous whiff of patchouli, which, to be honest, is my favorite part of this fragrance and what puts it above all of the other pistachio fragrances I've smelled thus far. 

From my experience, pistachio perfumes tend to be quite sweet, and this one is no exception. I have a bowl of them next to me, and their smell is very distinct. While the nuts do have a light sweetness about them, they are also a little green, a little woody, a little savory. The flavor is all of that plus buttery-ness. A well-toasted almond might be the closest thing to a pistachio, but it's still worlds away. While D.S. & Durga Pistachio lists the nut in the top, middle, and base notes, I don't find that it smells particularly of pistachio, particularly in the first hour or so when a sticky honey-like note feels particularly in-my-face. This is why this fragrance needs such an assertive patchouli note: it cuts through the sweetness and stands in for the savory quality that pistachios possess. 

I have never smelled natural pistachio extract, or whatever natural or man-made pistachio notes are available to perfumers. Perhaps it is a bit like almond extract, which has a distinctive smell that is recognized as almond, but doesn't actually smell the way almond nutmeats smell. Or like cherry flavoring, which doesn't taste of actual cherries, but like cheap maraschino cocktail cherries (which taste rather like almond extract). We have been conditioned by years of cherry-flavored sweets like Lifesavers--and cocktail cherries--so we recognize that particular flavor as "cherry," but not actually cherry. The idea of cherry.

It's possible Pistachio smells like these perfumery ingredients, the idea of pistachio. I don't know. All I do know is that I do very much like this fragrance, whether or not it actually smells like the nut in question. My husband thinks it does, so what do I know? I'd say this fragrance smelled more like a bowl of rich vanilla French buttercream, drizzled with honey, and topped with a smattering of chopped nutmeats. And a good slug of earthy patchouli, which means it doesn't adhere to my definition of a "gourmand" fragrance, though some might categorize it thusly. No matter--I like it enough to have purchased a big bottle, and I plan to use it frequently during the cooler months.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.

Summer Favorites

bins filled with citrus, vanilla beans, and twigs, generated by Adobe Firefly AI

I'm one of those people who has one fragrance wardrobe for warm weather and a completely different one for cold. After all, I wouldn't wear shorts and flip flops in the winter or a coat in the summer. When temperatures hit the mid-60s, suddenly cozy vanilla and amber perfumes can feel stifling; when it's super hot, they make me gag. It's not that I don't like them anymore, it's just that they feel very wrong. I have a similar reaction with light citrusy scents in the winter, though rather than making me physically ill, I merely feel naked. 

I own over 200 different scents, which I store in sealed bins in a dark, climate-controlled, room. When the seasons change, I pull out 30 or so to wear in the coming months. With so many frags to choose from, those 30 can change from year to year, meaning I might not wear some of my perfumes at all some years. Others, however, are favorites that I can't live without, so they always find their way into my seasonal selection. 

Armani Prive Orangerie Venise

Bitter Orange, Citruses, Bergamot, Neroli, Agathosma, Ambroxan, Cedar, Moss

This was one of those rare love-at-first-sniff must-buy-now occasions for me. I was about to leave the Beauty Floor at Bergdorf's and spotted a display of this scent by the up escalator. I will smell anything with the word "orange" in the name, so I gave myself a spritz and left the building. I couldn't stop sniffing myself the rest of the day, so I went back and bought a bottle. It wasn't cheap, but I knew I wasn't likely to find this at a perfume discounter anytime soon. I'd say this is a modern chypre fragrance, with a lot of moss to compensate for the ton of citrus. It's gorgeous on me, and perfect for hot weather.

Carthusia Mediterraneo 

Lemon, Bergamot, Mint, Eucalyptus, Red Thyme, Litsea Cubeba, Sicilian Mandarin, Wildflowers, Jasmine, Cardamom, White Musk

Lemon and mint are a pretty perfect summertime beat-the-heat combo. They work as flavors and as aromas. While Mediterraneo has lots of other ingredients, it's really all about the lemon and mint. It's fairly long lasting on my skin, too, which I think is probably thanks to the white musk drydown. Summer in a bottle. 

Caudalie The des Vignes

Tea, African Orange Flower, Jasmine, Grapes, Neroli, Ginger, Musk, Woodsy Notes, Honey

This was a blind buy. I didn't think I could go wrong with this one, though the honey note might have turned out to be too strong. The des Vignes is somewhat in the same school of thought as D&G Light Blue and Moschino I Love Love, a fresh and sparkly citrus/fruit/transparent woods thing, but with orange flower instead of citrus. It's light, pretty, and uplifting.

Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte

Amalfi Lemon, Bergamot, Neroli, Magnolia, Jasmine, Iris, Musk

Cristalle Eau Verte is my all-time favorite summer scent. I can wear it every day without getting tired of it. The opening is so joyful and bright, citrussy but also green. I can't pick out the specific floral notes, but they give the fragrance some staying power, and the musk makes the whole thing summertime sexy. It's fabulous. 

D.S. & Durga Lady Greystock

Violet, Orris, Amber

This Anthropologie collab is one of those scents that was so good at first spritz, I spent the rest of the evening sniffing my arm. Despite violet being listed as a note, it's nowhere to be found in this dry and woody scent that must also have patchouli in it. Perfect for most seasons, I love it most in the summer when it really helps cut the heat. They discontinued the frag soon after I bought my first bottle, so I contacted D.S. & Durga to see if there were any bottles hanging around the warehouse. There were, so I bought three. I just started my third bottle and have one full one left. Lucky me. 

Estee Lauder Azuree Soleil Eau Fraiche Skinscent

Mandarin Orange, Sicilian Bergamot, Gardenia, Magnolia, Myrrh, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Coconut, Caramel, Sandalwood, Amber, Vetiver

The precursor to EL's Bronze Goddess, Azuree Soleil smells like sweet summers of my youth. Read more about it on this post.

Guerlain La Cologne du Parfumeur

African Orange Flower, Amalfi Lemon, Citruses, Rosemary, Lavender, Mint, White Musk

Another love-at-first-sniff...clearly there's a theme with my summer faves! I met this one at a Sniffapalooza breakfast event at Bergdorf's in 2010 where it was introduced to a small group of fragrance fanatics. As soon as the event was over, I hightailed it to the Guerlain counter and handed over my credit card. While Cologne du Parfumeur does have the usual cologne citrus thing going on, it also has a lovely herbal twist without being overtly herby, and the bonus of a white musk drydown. I just love this one.

Hermes Eau des Merveilles

Orange, Elemi, Lemon, Amber, Pepper, Pink Pepper, Violet, Fir, Cedar, Madagascar Vetiver, Oakmoss, Benzoin

I was on a trip to NY with my Dad when I met this one. I can't remember what shop we visited, but there was a Hermes counter and we did some sampling. He smelled of some nightmarish cumin monster the rest of the day, while I wafted this dry and salty ambergris scent. Unlike others mentioned here, I waited a while before making a purchase. This is so good on those ferociously hot days in July and August.

Hermes Hiris

Iris, Coriander, Carnation, Amber, Iris, Neroli, Rose, Cedar, Almond Tree, Honey, Vanilla

I sniffed this one at Bergdorf's and bought it on the spot. (Maybe it's the magic of Bergdorf's that compels me to buy so many things immediately?) It's hard to believe that there are so many notes in this fragrance, because all I get is cold, nearly metallic, iris, with the barest cold cream thing going on with it. 

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Cologne Pour le Matin

Bergamot, Lavender, Thyme, Amalfi Lemon, African Orange Flower

For whatever reason, this beaut smells like purple Jujubes to me. The little semi-gummy/semi-hard candy pellets, not the fruit. Purple is violet, not lavender, flavored, so I have to think that it's the combination of lavender/thyme/citrus that causes that effect. I'm so glad I bought the big bottle, as this fragrance has been discontinued. 

Ode Verde

Cut Grass, Herbaceous Basil, Green Olive, Tomato Leaf

Olive oil purveyors McEvoy Ranch have a beauty line that once upon a time included perfume.  It's fantastically green and herbaceous, and while it does smell of  basil and tomato leaf, I think it really smells like parsley. I misplaced my bottle for a while, but am happy to say I found it again and have been wearing it during the recent hot spell we've been having.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.