Fragrances -Bulgari - Rose Essentielle EDP - limted edition
CheriCheri 2/5/2009 9:28:00 PM
A pleasant rose with very little of patchouli I've come to expect from Bulgari. It has something else to amplify the rose besides patchouli but I can't quite place the scent (geranium?). I'd describe this scent as a mix of Stella and Ormonde Jayne Ta'if, both very pretty and true rose scents. I detect that this scent may have a somewhat clean musk in it's base, thus making it lighter and "brighter" than Ta'if. For what I paid, I am quite happy with my purchase and tempted enough to purchase another bottle!
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Fragrances -Giorgio Armani - Cuir Amethyste
CheriCheri 2/4/2009 9:09:00 PM
Lovely sweet violets and vanilla are dancing in this scent with a hint of labdanum and benzoin, upon a base of fine leather. It was love at first sniff. I bought it un-sniffed based on the notes and it was even better than I thought. If you love soft leather and sweet violets, this is the scent for you. It's not cheap, but if you can find a refill bottle, it will only cost about half the price of the fancy bottle.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Chypre Rouge
CheriCheri 9/30/2008 1:00:00 PM
I only had a sample, but now I wish I had a bottle! I was wary about trying this scent due to the complaints about cumin. Instead, I found the initial topnotes of Chypre Rouge to be a sweet cousin to Chene! I think they both have a hint of rum, moss and oak wood. From then, both fragrances diverge. While Chene is dry, Chypre Rouge is somewhat sweet and spicy. I believe the spices are coriander and nutmeg, not cumin. The drydown is a bag of spice drops candy and a hint of oakmoss - sweet but with some substance. It is long lasting, at least 6 hours on me after three sprays. Quite unique!
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Fragrances -Tommy Hilfiger - Tommy Girl
CheriCheri 7/7/2008 5:40:00 PM
First try: oh no, will I smell like everyone else? Second try: At Sephora - Hmmm...nice drydown, what IS this? (used just a drop) Third try: At Sephora - not in the mood for this. (was cool and rainy weather) Fourth and fifth try: Wow, this really blooms on my skin. Iced tea, hay, floral, light white musk, just angelic! (was 100+ degrees outside) It was the fifth try on a very hot day that sealed the deal with this scent. It is meant for warm summer days. It is ageless - I can see a 13-year-old wear it, or a 65-year-old! It's young at heart, sunny and cheerful. PLEASE use sparingly for the best effect. I find I smell more of the flowers when it is used lightly.
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Fragrances -La Ligne de St. Barth - Santal
CheriCheri 6/10/2008 6:13:00 PM
I'd buy this again if it wasn't discontinued! This scent is a meld of sandalwood, musk, and spices, and dries down to a dry powdery scent. It is somewhat long lasting but stays close to the skin. I find it reminds me of a dry low desert in mid-July. Nothing sweet interferes with the beauty of the sandalwood and cinnamon. Beautiful!
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Attar Bazaar Sudanese Black Rose
CheriCheri 6/8/2008 8:53:00 PM
This smelled like citronella to me and overwhelmed nearly every other scent in blend (rose and sandalwood, supposedly). In addition, this scent is way too sweet. The scent did not change even through the drydown and barely resembles any true rose water or attars I have smelled. I find it hard to believe that anything in this mix is "real."
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Fragrances -Donna Karan - Labdanum
CheriCheri 6/8/2008 7:55:00 PM
I knew this was a scent based on a single note so I was not expecting any significant "depth" to this fragrance. Despite my low expectations, I am thrilled with this scent. One has to remember that labdanum can smell greenish to nearly an ambery smooth, depending on the source. This labdanum is more of the smooth type and has perhaps a little benzoin to round it out. It stays fairly close to the skin, unlike DK's regular scents. I find the lasting power is average, about 3 to 4 hours after light application. I hope this is never discontinued, unlike another one of my DK favorites, Chaos. I'd have to stock up if that ever happened. I will always want this in my fragrance wardrobe!
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Fragrances -Chanel - No. 22
CheriCheri 6/3/2008 12:24:00 PM
This review compares the newer version of the edt vs an older version of the edt. While the newer edt was sharp and greener, the older edt was smooth and deeper. The newer version seemed to have a bit of galbanum and/or vetiver while the older version was a smooth floral bouquet with a creamy drydown. My overall rating is based on the older edt. The newer edt, while pretty, would only get a three. I have been told the parfum is smoother. I plan to try it eventually (if I can find it/afford it.) I hope it will resemble the older version of the edt.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Acqua di Biella No. 1
CheriCheri 5/22/2008 7:40:00 PM
After the pleasant 30-second citrus opening, jasmine indoles began to attack my nose. The jasmine used, at least in the batch I tried, was very smelly and not smooth. After 30 minutes of nearly unbearable indoles, the scent calmed down to a blur of vaguely floral notes with a hint of vetiver mixed with an animalic musk. The official notes state "white musk" but the drydown smelled like a watered down version of Musks Kublai Khan by Serge Lutens. Summary: I would be embarassed to wear this in public!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Institut Très Bien Cologne à la Francaise Eau de Toilette
CheriCheri 5/15/2008 12:58:00 PM
I purchased this unsniffed based upon the listed notes. I figured lemon and lime, magnolia, lavender, rosemary and verbena, with soft notes of iris would be decent at the very least. My first application was on a very warm day; It was 80 degrees (F) and only 7:30 a.m. The delicate citrus notes were delightful as I sprayed just out of the shower. My first thought was this HAS to be available in a shower gel. For now, my search continues. But, I digress... The other notes of this scent arrive quickly and are balanced, almost making this scent rather linear in the fact that it is like experiencing a sunny garden with flowers and citrus trees all at once. The magnolia and iris protect this scent from bitterness and balance the citrus, herbs, and other aromatics. The lasting power is average and I needed to apply about every two to three hours. Overall, this scent is comforting on a warm day and while I would call it fresh, it does not smell like soap or fabric softener. Think of a sunny summer mediterranean garden and you might get a hint of what is in this scent.
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Fragrances -Houbigant - Quelques Violettes
CheriCheri 3/31/2008 12:03:00 AM
Violet lovers must try this one. Don't expect any candied violets in this one. Lovely scent, reminiscent of some of Guerlain's florals like Chant D'Aromes or Apres L'Ondee. Not the same as these, but wonderfully complex, beautiful, and classic. My initial impression was a mixture of Joy and Violetta di Parma, but the middle notes had some green in it, and the drydown had some woods, perhaps sandalwood. It certainly is more complex that the original Quelque Fleurs and is perhaps even more floral.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Regina Harris perfume oil
CheriCheri 2/21/2008 4:11:00 PM
Deep, resinous, dark incense mixed with the lushest sweet rose. Quite potent; only a drop or two is needed to last for several hours. This scent reminds me of my visit to a Rosicrucian museam; the place was full of ancient relics and actual mummies. The gift store sold beautiful (and expensive) replicas of ancient Egyptian treasures. The counter person was burning pure frankincense and myrhh incense- this mesmorizing smell reminds me of this lovely perfume. This scent is unique enough to merit to the price; no BPAL or any other dupe has managed to match the depth and complexity of this scent.
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Fragrances -Santa Maria Novella - Musk ("Muschio")
CheriCheri 2/6/2008 12:48:00 PM
Perhaps it's my skin chemistry but Muschio works for me. I detect a licorice/anise creamy scent with a hint of herbal and roots. It is not cloying like many other musks I have tried. It does not remind me of the musks used commonly in laundry detergents and soaps, thankfully. This scent will work year 'round for me.
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Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Fleurs d' Oranger (Les Rouges No.3)
CheriCheri 1/29/2008 7:17:00 PM
I found this scent to be very fleeting, even in the edp version. I could detect the orange blossom for about two minutes, and after, it dried to a barely detectable, slightly spicy scent with barely a hint of orange. Perhaps if this scent had more staying-power, I would like it better. Unfortunately, this scent never achieves a "rouge" let alone an orange scent.
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Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Turkish Musk
CheriCheri 1/28/2008 7:29:00 PM
This musk reminds me of many others, especially Egyptian Musks, and other skin musks. All of these tend toward the sweet side on my skin and take on a bit of a dryer-sheet smell on me. My skin does not pick up the subtleties of this specific scent until about a hour after application. While pleasant, it lacks some depth that I hope to find. I can detect some leather and some fruitiness a while after application but it is quite subtle.
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