Fragrances -Guerlain - Vetiver Eau Glacee
DunandaFalls 2/20/2010 3:39:00 AM
Smells like Vetiver "light" to me. Just a bit more fresh with the citrus top notes. Their dry downs are too similar to make this one necessary. I'll stick with the original.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - La Base for Men
DunandaFalls 2/19/2010 6:07:00 PM
Fresh top notes of birch and mint dry down to an herbaceous sage and oakmoss base. It's like a modern update of a classic 70s fragrance. Very well made and complex, though extremely expensive. Too bad it is no longer being produced. This is what Swiss millionaires smell like.
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Fragrances -Shiseido - Feminite du Bois
DunandaFalls 5/30/2008 7:49:00 PM
Feminite du Bois is one of the most divinely blended scents ever made, close behind the Serge Lutens scents it inspired. Spicy and exotic without being overpowering..it starts with a ripe fruit accord strong on the plum, blanketed by a slightly sweet honey note, a warm spiciness and a stark cedar woodiness that is surprisingly strong at first. Wood is the focus here, so if you don't like woody fragrances this one is not for you. As it dries down the cedar wood note becomes very smooth reminding me of a mysore sandalwood, and a wet violet note emerges. I find it decidedly unisex much like the Serge Lutens line and wear this one myself. As it dries down it wears closer to the skin, which I didn't care for as much. But overall the notes blend together in near perfection. Feminite du Bois is definitely a winner and a must try.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrance -Bulgari - BLV Blu for Men
DunandaFalls 4/5/2005 1:29:00 AM
Blending together hot spices and exotic woods in a perfect harmonic balance, Bvlgari Blv pour Homme is one of the best “hot” men’s fragrances around. It begins with a strong dose of galanga (curry), cardamom and especially ginger, layered over a very fresh and “springy” tobacco flower note. Add an extremely nice blend of woody accords including hot cedarwood, outdoorsy juniper and aromatic teak wood and you have a modern masculine fragrance that oozes class and sophistication. It reminds me a bit of Salvatore Ferragamo, only Blv has a very nice curry accord while Salvatore Ferragamo smells like the whole dish was poured in your lap. The musky dry down in Blv also blends perfectly with the woods and spices. Summer nights and cool weather, dressed up or dressed down -- Blv is very versatile as well. It’s one of those that wears fairly close to ones skin, but has a nice, subdued silage that won’t enter the room before you do. It’s nice when you want to make a classy, sexy statement but not too bold. I’m of the opinion that Blv is a very under appreciated fragrance and I highly recommend it.
Top notes: Ginger, Galanga, Cardamom
Middle notes: Tobacco Blossom, Juniper, Gingko
Base notes: Teak wood, Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Musk
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Versace - Versace Man
DunandaFalls 4/4/2005 2:57:00 AM
The first time I tried Versace Man I made a simple mistake, I sprayed it entirely on top of my clothing when I was running late for school one morning. My initial impression was grape bubble gum meets dank driftwood. And as the day wore on it became even more dank and dusty as the Kashmir wood note seemed to go haywire, becoming even more pungent, oppressive and cloying, clashing badly with the other notes and drowning them out. It was not pleasant. BUT, I tried it again recently after a 5 month break from it and I figured out what I had done wrong. On my skin rather than on my shirt it smelled much better. It must be that it requires going through the proper dry down on the skin or it ends up stinking. This time the Kashmir wood note stayed bright and subdued, never bullying the other notes around like before. I still get the grape bubble gum, but this time no dank or dustiness. So the trick with this one is to avoid the clothing and spray it entirely on ones skin. Sadly, that’s tough to do considering the fact that it is an elegant evening fragrance. I usually go long sleeved when I’m dressed up, so I guess the technique will have to be to spray it on my chest under my shirt and put more on than usual so it sifts through the fabric. It smells great when worn right. It has a synthetic sweetness that I really enjoy with the backdrop of exotic woods and spices. But I still must deduct a lippie for inability to wear this one on clothes. In the wintertime, when Versace Man works great as a daytime fragrance, this skin vs. clothing issue becomes very annoying.
Top notes: neroli, Calabrian bergamot, angelica flower, black pepper
Middle notes: cardamom, saffron
Base notes: living tobacco leaves, amber, labdanum, ciste, Kashmir wood
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - AromaSciences - Nessie Monster Pheromones
DunandaFalls 4/3/2005 5:58:00 AM
AromaSciences Nessie Monster Pheromones is a playful and fun mix of what smells to me like bananas, floral notes, musk, amber and sandalwood. To those reading the notes, it would seem like it would be like one of those teenybopper body sprays at Wal Mart, but it isn’t. There is definitely more depth to it that those cheap sprays, and it really has a somewhat rich blend. Patchouli emerges as it dries down, lending a pleasant, dark earthy quality to it lying just beneath the very warm and sweet fruitiness. It reminds me a little of the dry down of Coco Mademoiselle EDT with banana instead of grapefruit and with a slightly more earthy tone, but not near its quality of components. Though the quality of notes feels a only slightly better than something blended together with those cheap fragrance oils you can find of Ebay, I still like this one. It's kind of fun finding a fragrance that makes something nice with a banana smoothie note. Who'da thunk it? Being a fan of AromaSciences (even with the lame name) I also wanted to add, so far this is the only of their fragrances in which I can smell subpar components in use. 3.5 out of 5.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle
DunandaFalls 4/3/2005 5:28:00 AM
I prefer the EDT to the EDP, and this review is for the EDT. Sweet and sensual, this is not your grandmother’s oriental fragrance. Coco Mademoiselle is so delectable I could just eat it up whenever I smell it. I know there are some out there that consider it to be a unisex fragrance, but after loving it on many women, my brain has the idea that it is a completely “makes-me-weak-in-the-knees” feminine fragrance. This one is up there as one of my top 5 women’s scents right along with Lancome Miracle, YSL In Love Again and a few other secret weapons. Oh, melt me like butter; that tangy fruitiness along with the musk, vanilla and amber base gets me so hot and bothered. And the hot cedarwood note doesn’t take away anything from the sweet side of the fragrance, adding just enough of an exotic woodiness to further enhance its intoxicating effect. Pick up a bottle and smile contently to yourself as you watch the heads turn as you walk by, both men and women. Women want to know it while men just want to be next to it. We men cannot resist Coco Mademoiselle. It is just so sexy and sultry yet tender and feminine, with a refined yet youthful, playful charm. It’s one of the best ever made for women. I am a HUGE fan. Kudos to the nose of Jacques Polge.
Notes: bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, lychee, jasmine, rose, musk, vanilla, cedarwood
7 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Molinard - Habanita
DunandaFalls 4/2/2005 3:12:00 AM
Molinard Habanita is an amazing deep, rich and smoky fragrance reminiscent of some of the classics women's scents by Guerlain. I wear this as a unisex fragrance, but only when I’m in a funky mood. I mainly get out of it sweet and smoky pipe tobacco, tangy fruit, powdery florals, earthy orris, cedarwood, soft leather and a sticky sweet mix of amber, vanilla and benzoin. It is very dark and sexy, mysterious even, with an intoxicating effect on the senses. The slightly earthy yet powdery orris (iris root) accord blends into it perfectly and is my favorite note in this lovely ensemble. Habanita is definitely one to go easy on, as it is very powerful stuff. It exudes confidence and an assertive playfulness. Though it smells wonderful, it really isn’t that versatile. The powdery notes make it mainly a very nice, seductive, women’s evening fragrance for the 30-year-old plus woman. For a guy, I’m of the opinion that it could only go with a suit, and since I rarely wear one, I don’t get to enjoy this one too often, but I still love it. This review is for the EDT, but I hope to some day try the parfum.
Top notes: bergamot, peach, orange blossom, raspberry
Middle notes: rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, orris, heliotrope, lilac
Base notes: amber, oakmoss, leather, vanilla, musk, cedarwood, benzoin
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Iceberg Fluid Man
DunandaFalls 4/2/2005 1:15:00 AM
Iceberg Fluid Man is one of the most unique and wonderfully synthetic designer fragrance I've yet tried, but from some of the other reviews I’ve read, it must be extremely sensitive to body chemistry as many men dislike this one immensely. On the other hand, every woman I know that has encountered this sexy men’s fragrance has fallen in love with it. To this day Fluid Man is still my second most complemented fragrance next to Creed Millesime Imperial. One thing is for sure, you’ll either love it or you hate it. There is no middle ground it seems. But it’s all love here baby. Fluid Man begins very hot and spicy along with fresh, white floral undertones, becoming woodier as it dries down, with a thick, dark mix of wood, patchouli and oakmoss notes in the base. The additional warmth of amber, honey and hot spices in the base lend a good deal of sweetness to the dark woody base after about 15 minutes. It is an extremely full-bodied fragrance mixing many diverse notes. It goes so many directions at once that it really toes the line on clashing. It is strange because it is a very "perfumy" yet manly fragrance, reminding me of layering a highly feminine sweet, floral fragrance with a very masculine wood and moss fragrance. The dry down reminds me a little of a toned down version of Paco Rabanne's Ultraviolet Man as it shares notes of honey, amber and moss. It’s one of my personal favorites.
Top notes: lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin, peach, blackcurrant, patchouli
Middle notes: magnolia, freesia, oakmoss, Java vetiver
Base notes: nutmeg, cardamom, Texas cedarwood, birchwood, ebony, honey, amber, tobacco
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Iceberg Effusion for Men
DunandaFalls 4/2/2005 12:53:00 AM
Iceberg Effusion for Men is very bland and generic and a weak attempt at a fresh and fruity sport scent. It wears extremely close to the skin even for a citrus scent, and though it supposedly has interesting notes in it like apple, rose and aniseed, all that really show up are grapefruit, wispy florals and a miniscule base of musk and cedarwood, making it a very light powdery citrus scent. Laughably light aniseed and pepper notes give Effusion the slightest whisper of an oriental side, but it just so pitifully weak that I almost didn't even mention it. And then a ½ hour in, the patchouli note rises up and dashes apart what very little it had. The dry down just does not work and the patchouli really seems to clash with the other notes. Even Adidas Moves and those tacky Axe sprays beat this one. After liking both Twice and Fluid for men, Effusion was a bit of a let down.
Top notes: apple, lime, grapefruit, aniseed, black pepper
Middle notes: freesia, rose, orange blossom
Base notes: patchouli, white cedar, licorice, Mysore sandalwood, white musk
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Fragrances -Keiko Mecheri - Sanguine
DunandaFalls 4/1/2005 1:44:00 AM
Keiko Mecheri Sanguine is a simple, clean and zesty blend of ripe citrus fruit and white florals. There are some light spices in there as well along with a base of white musk and wood, but all of these notes don't come through all that well. Sanguine isn't all that well balanced and it ends up as a muddled white floral fragrance that reminds me a little of muskier version of Diptyque's Jardin Clos. It's okay, but nothing to write home about.
Notes: blood orange, orange rind, white florals, white musk
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - AromaSciences Earth Nymph
DunandaFalls 4/1/2005 12:54:00 AM
AromaSciences Earth Nymph is crazy unique fragrance. My jaw is still on the floor. It smells like working in the yard, and actually blends the pleasant yard scents with the strange. Just be careful with this one, as it is very strong! At first, it smells like a lawn freshly sprayed with chemical fertilizer along with the dominant accord of rich, dark potting soil all over a bed of wood bark. As it dries down, a strong minty menthol accord and Christmas tree pine take over, on top of an extremely smooth sandalwood and peat moss base. A ½ hour in, a nice amber note emerges, warming it up a little and taking the edge off of the pungent earthiness. It’s dry down is just amazing! It smells like absolutely nothing else made. I am just in love the menthol bite and amber warmth. Just don’t put it on right before meeting someone or they’ll wrinkle their nose and tell you that you should’ve showered after fertilizing the lawn..and yourself. Be sure not to judge this one first sniff because during the first minute the chemical fertilizer note is overwhelming, but it does soon die down. Before the amber lightens up this sharp earthy fragrance, it will surely be thought of by most as a very strange fragrance. I know it is an annoyance, but you may want to put it on a half hour before going out. I’ll give it 5 lippies for its uniqueness, 3 for its wearability and 6 for its dry down. Then I’ll average ‘em together, round up and give it a 5. Anyone who holds being outdoors in the summertime as dear to their hearts as myself MUST give this one a try. I’ve noticed it can also melt away the wintertime blues.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - AromaSciences WashTub
DunandaFalls 4/1/2005 12:48:00 AM
AromaSciences WashTub is a very tangy fruit and spice take on the freshly washed clothes theme. It has a highly fresh and watery “clean linen” note made up of ripe citrus fruit (mainly mandarin oranges with some grapefruit), green leaves and lavender. There is a pleasant and slightly foody yet clean ginger note in it that really adds some body to it. The AromaSciences’ signature “highland base” of wood and peat moss is a little more wet here than in some of their other fragrances and it blends with the other notes very nicely. WashTub reminds me a bit of the new Cumming the Fragrance only WashTub is slightly more multifaceted. It’s very busy with a lot of different notes trying to catch your attention, but in the end they sing together. After about ½ hour, amber emerges and sweetens the blend even further. Mandarin is definitely the dominant accord here, but the other notes compliment it very nicely. I have a new summertime ally.
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Fragrances -Comme des Garcons - Series 5- Rhubarb
DunandaFalls 3/28/2005 1:11:00 AM
Rhubarb by Comme des Garcons is the most intriguing fragrance I’ve had the privilege of trying so far in my two years of fragrance addiction. It is just so tart, sour and bizarre with the most unique blend of greens, peppercorns, sweets and wood. I’ve never smelled anything remotely like it. It has the silage that smells like the heaping salad you’d make at one of those all you can eat salad bar restaurants like Sizzler, with a large dose of the dominant note here, peppercorn. I was expecting something completely different, that’s for sure. No Sherbet here. As it dries down it gets even more peppery with a smoky barbeque wood note, giving it the odor of a peppercorn steak with a side salad. Though the daring uniqueness of Rhubarb blew me away at first try, every single person I’ve worn it for scrunches up their nose after sniffing it. They always tell me it smells nice, but who would want to smell like that. I’ll have to give it a few more wears before I can decide for sure, but this one may just be a novelty act. I don’t think I’d purposely want to smell like a grease-splattered chef’s after a hard days work. I honestly am lost as to what to score this one. I love bold and unique fragrances, which earned it the extra lippie, but this one borders on unwearable.
Notes: bergamot, rhubarb, lychee, orchid sap, cognassier flower, vanilla cream, wenge
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Fragrances -Bulgari - Omnia
DunandaFalls 3/28/2005 12:46:00 AM
Omnia by Bvlgari is a very unique and intriguing blend of a bevy of rich notes. Take every note listed below and mix them in equal proportions and you’ll have Omnia. Its extremely busy, rich texture is unique in its complexity. Okay, if I had to pick the strongest notes to my nose, I pick up mostly on ginger, cardamom, nutmeg and what smells to me like oak wood. The garam masala tea note gives it a slightly sour edge that seems to blend with the other notes perfectly. The lingering sweetness of white chocolate and tonka bean in the background adds a lot of flavor to it, though it is not a dominantly sweet fragrance. Don’t buy this one if you love rich, pure chocolate fragrances because the spices and wood drown much of it out. The chocolate does develop more as it dries down, but even then Omnia smells like a chef’s dirty counter top after preparing a banquet, mellowed out by the strong, dark, dry and slightly musty odor of a well seasoned backyard wood pile that’s baked in the sun and soaked in the snow year in year out for a decade. Though that sounds bizarre, it really does work as a sexy and sophisticated evening fragrance, but I would dare say it’s slightly more suitable for men than women. Like others have mentioned, it does go somewhat transparent after it is sprayed so go easy on it. 4.5 out of 5.
Top notes: mandarin, saffron, ginger, cardamom, black pepper
Middle notes: garam masala tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond milk, lotus flower
Base notes: white chocolate, tonka bean, milky notes, Mysore sandalwood, Indian woods
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No