Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Queen Bess
BasiaS 12/11/2006 10:27:00 PM
I wanted so much to love this as I've been obsessed with dark/spicy rose scents lately, but I found Queen Bess too cinnamony. The note unfortunately throttles most other notes in the composition, and it smells of rose-scented cinnamon rather than the other way around. Just look at the notes and you'll see why this was so disappointing. Try AL's own Rasa for a better spicy rose scent. Notes: Bergamot, Cinnamon, Clove bud, Cardamom, Carnation, Saffron, Grass, Rose musk, English tea rose, Moroccan rose absolute, Turkish rose absolute, Bulgarian rose absolute, Lavender absolute, Cedar, Amber, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Earth, Civit, Ambergris.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Divine - L'Inspiratrice
BasiaS 12/11/2006 7:49:00 PM
I love the old Hollywood glamour of Yvon Mouchel's perfumes, and this new addition to the line doesn't disappoint. It's marketed as a patchouli-rose blend, but interestingly neither note dominates the composition too much (so those who could not take L'Artisan's patch-heavy Voleur de Rose can breathe easy). L'Inspiratrice is both dark and ethereal, creating an aura that's mysterious but not overpowering, sexy but not cheap. To my nose it's a rosey, slightly earthy and creamy floral with a sweet, gourmand base. It brings to mind the alluring movie stars of yesteryear who left a lot to the imagination. As a side note, CS from Divine is amazing and their prices are far better than Luckyscent's. Notes: patchouli, rose, ylang from the Comoros, bergamot from Calabria, peony, white musk, vetiver, vanilla, tonka bean.
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Fragrances -Guerlain - Rose Barbare
BasiaS 12/11/2006 7:19:00 PM
Ah, I thought I finally found a rose that called my name (quite literally), but Rose Barbare is not quite what I was looking for. It is a lovely, soft and rather demure rose, not a dark and complicated floral like I was hoping to find. It has some honey accents (which I love) and fruity undertones (which I don't love), making this more conventional and less sexy, less mysterious than a dirty rose scent like Agent Provocateur. Overall, it's quite nice, but those looking for that classic Guerlain perfume with a dark, moody base will be disappointed. I have to thank a generous swapper for sending me a sample of this rare fragrance.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Sonoma Scent Studio - Encens Lavande
BasiaS 12/10/2006 8:25:00 PM
Laurie doesn't have this blend on her website anymore, but I hope she returns to it because it's quite wonderful! It is a perfect substitute for Serge Lutens' hard-to-get Encense et Lavande, a soothing and delicate masterpiece of perfumery (which I'm madly in love with). SSS's version starts off with a potent lavender note, which takes only a few minutes to settle comfortably onto my skin. It doesn't take too long for the incense to take over - and when it does, Encens Lavande turns into a gorgeous sweet incense blend that I simply can't stop smelling. The SSS scent is not as complex as the SL creation, but I find it to be as beautiful and as soothing. It also may be a better option for those who find the SL scent too dry. If you love lavender and incense, definitely seek this one out (try the Custom Blend option).
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Fragrances -Bond No.9 - Scent Of Peace
BasiaS 12/10/2006 2:40:00 PM
This is nice enough, I suppose, but it's not really worth the high price tag. You can get something similar from countless etailers for a LOT less. Just to note, Scent of Peace is a pleasant blackcurrant-musk combo with a *touch* of green floral. As it dries down, the green floral/LOTV takes over, and changes the scent into something pleasant yet generic. Another disappointment from the highly-overrated Bond.
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Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Nude Musk
BasiaS 12/9/2006 6:21:00 PM
Nude Musk is basically identical to Perfect Veil by Creative Scentalization - it's a sensual, powdery lemon scent with a warm sandalwood base. If you have Perfect Veil, you don't need this. But if you are looking for a cheaper alternative, this is a very good option. Lasting power is good, also. I would buy this only when I run out of PV. Notes: sandalwood, bergamot, light musk, vanilla.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - LesNez Let Me Play the Lion
BasiaS 12/9/2006 12:12:00 PM
This is definitely the best scent in the entire line, and it smells of gentle smoke, soft woods and something persistently sweet. I usually don't like anise in fragrances but here it's subdued, giving this otherwise-smoky scent a pleasant sweetness. I also smell some pepper which gives the fragrance a bit more presence than the other two fragrances from LesNez. This is a gentle, pleasant scent but it's not FBW for me.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - LesNez The Unicorn Spell
BasiaS 12/9/2006 12:07:00 PM
This is an interesting, ice-cold violet-iris perfume. It starts off with a cool, earthy iris and softly changes into a sweeter violet note blended with some green leaves. Drydown is mostly a cool, slightly earthy violet on my skin. Overall, it's pleasant but nothing extraordinary. I love violets but I have trouble with iris notes, and this is motly iris on me, so The Unicorn Spell is not for me. Try before you buy (especially if you're expecting a violet fragrance).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Pearl Musk
BasiaS 12/4/2006 8:51:00 AM
This sweet musk is hard not to like - it's soft, just a tad soapy, and does not turn to plastic the way many AL musks do (at least on my skin). I think hardcore musk fans would enjoy this. Everyone else should probably sample, because even though I like it, I don't think it's anything special.
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Fragrances -Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Perfumes - Eau de Mure
BasiaS 12/3/2006 5:31:00 PM
There is a note in this blend that many have picked up on that spoils this otherwise pleasant blackberry and musk fragrance. I didn't realize that one could ruin this easy to like combo but MPG has done it! On my skin, it smells vegetal and spoiled. L'Artisan's Mure et Musc EDT still remains my favorite.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Bathed and Infused - Funeral
BasiaS 12/2/2006 10:29:00 AM
This is quite similar to scents like Opone and Agent Provocateur, and it only costs a fraction less! Don't let the name turn you off. Funeral is a beatiful, dark rose; sexy and moody and quite wonderful for something this cheap. Rose fans should check this out ASAP!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Aroma M Geisha Marron
BasiaS 12/2/2006 12:37:00 AM
I hated Aroma M's watery, powdery Violet perfume, and sadly this one is not much of an improvement. The notes made it sound somewhat promising, but sadly I get none of the delicious fall goodness that the description on Luckyscent promises. The fragrance is flat and I agree with the first reviewer who describes it as "stale." There is a telling line in the description. It reads: "More than any other, it evokes the musty scent of succulent overripeness, of sweetness that dares to skirt the edge of seductive decay." This IS decay. Notes: grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, muguet, japanese magnolia, chestnut blossom (white flower).
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Fragrances -Andy Tauer - Orris
BasiaS 12/1/2006 9:47:00 AM
I really hope that Andy decides to make this a regular in his collection because it's just too beautiful to be an LE. Orris is a dark, moody yet feminine scent. It opens with a dirty orris-rose combo, heavily supported by pepper. I pick up quite a bit of dry incense and a dark, potent agarwood note once the top notes wear off a bit. The sandalwood and an earthy vetiver base don't show up until late into the drydown, when you already think the scent has gone through all of its stages. Orris is fun to wear because it's so multi-layered and complex, much like my beloved POTL. It's also incredibly sexy and dark and unconventional, but it may not be for everyone. This one is truly original. Rose absolute from bulgaria, cinnamon, pepper, grapefruit, Orris, Frankincense, Agar wood (Aoud), Mysore and Australian sandalwood, vetiver, ambergris.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Nelly Rodi - Scent Factory
BasiaS 11/29/2006 10:22:00 AM
Amber - 4 stars. The amber in this blend is dry, smokey and incensey, not unlike the amber fragrance Tan Giudicelli created for CCB-Paris a while back (which is now discontinued). As much as I love Mr. Giudicelli's scents, I dare say this is better. In fact, it's one of the best amber fragrances I've smelled, but it's still is not something I'd buy because amber is one of my least favorite notes. The 4 stars I'm giving this is a testament to the quality of this mixture. Incense - 5 stars. This is a beautiful, dry, spicy incense with a slight sweetness to it. The rosemary in the blend gives it an interesting greenness. Fans of CdG's Incense series should definitely test this one. I wish the scents from this line were available in separate bottles because I'd get this one! Bois - 5 stars. This, so far, is my favorite of the entire series. To my nose, it smells of soft leather with a strong woods base, mingled with clove and other spices. It does in fact smell a bit like Bvlgari Black, only without any rubber and vanilla. I've been on a woods kick lately - I think it's the cooler weather - and this is certainly one of my favorite finds so far! Cacao - 2 stars. This one's a boring blend of patchouli, vanilla and sweet chocolate. I like to eat chocolate but not wear it on my skin, so this one is not for me. This is one of the weakest blends in this entire collection. Gimgembre - 3 stars. This smells like a sparkling ginger-flavored drink (not quite ginger ale) with a sweet grapefruit note on top, some bitter saffron in the middle (which does not do much to tame the sweetness) and a warm amber/patch base. Pleasant but unremarkable.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -I Profumi di Firenze - Miele Rosa
BasiaS 11/28/2006 9:37:00 PM
This sounded so good to me, as I've been hunting for a perfect rose-honey combo that has so far eluded me. Alas, Miele Rosa starts off with a perfumey and artificial honey accord and dries down to a soft, pleasant but unremarkable rose petals scent. I found the beginning a bit too plasticky and potent, and the drydown too soft and boring. This is not iPdF's strongest creation, some of their rose scents are far better and Ambra del Nepal still remains one of my favorite amber perfumes out there (and this is coming from a girl who doesn't care for amber scents in general).
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