16 out of 17 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - biehl parfumkunstwerke - Patricia Choux - pc02

lilacterp 7/25/2008 9:53:00 PM

PC02 is a gentle beauty. It's a soft, cashmere-like skin veil of scent, with the notes blending seamlessly into a whisper of a sweet scent. There is a little powdery feel, not unlike Villoresi's Teint de Neige, though that one is more ovbiously powdery. Pc02 is a feminine and light skin scent, but with a persistent presence. It smells of spicy honey and brown sugar, of lavender and other flowers, warm musk and powder. A little bit of everything. I don't smell much patchouli, and what there is of it is clean and subdued. I enjoy the soft honey notes the most, but I wouldn't really describe this as a honey-predominant perfume. Everything in this is well proportioned and balanced. Pretty scent, but I don't think it stands out with originality. It is what it is- pleasant and pretty. By the way, I'm a little confused, as Luckyscent's list of the notes for pc02 differ a bit from the notes listed on the Biehl Parfumkunstwerke Web site. Biehl Parfumkunstwerke lists notes of "turkish delight" and "powdery, spicy, and flowery notes" and "blonde wood", all od which are note mentioned in Luckyscent's list of notes. On the other hand, Luckyscent lists notes of "white lavender" and "precious woods," both of which are not listed on the Biehl site. I wonder why there are two slightly differing lists of notes, but I guess would trust Biehl's list, since it is the manufacturer. Description and notes (from Biehl Parfumkunstwerke Web site): circus and cotton candy. giggling butterflies in the belly. maximum high spirit. head notes: risky but delicious. bergamot, cardamom, and spices combined with heart notes: powdery, spicy, and flowery notes. peony, turkish delight, freesia base notes: very sensual, warm, and erotic. blonde wood, patchouli, tonka bean, honey, musk Description and notes (from Luckyscent): Cardamom and honey. Do these words not make your mouth water? What if we added to that patchouli, tonka beans and musk? Do they now not spell Cold Weather Scent Extraordinaire to you? They do to us. We are head over heels in love with this crazy beautiful mix of all things wonderful, created for biehl by Patricia Choux. We love the deceptive coldness, the chill spiciness of the top notes, which gives way to the honeyed flowers of pc02’s heart. And oh, how we love the gorgeous, almost-gourmand excess of the base notes, where honey mixes with tonka beans, woods and patchouli in a blend of fantastic warmth and luxuriousness. Sexy and comforting, a perfect scent to fight the winter blues. pc02 notes Bergamot, white lavender, cardamom, spices, peony, freesia, precious woods, patchouli, tonka beans, honey, musk

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Fragrances -Parfumerie Generale - L'Oiseau de Nuit

lilacterp 7/20/2008 6:00:00 PM

I guess my review will be bringing down the rating for this a bit at this point, with only two other reviews.... I was disappointed in L'Oiseau de Nuit from the Private Collection, and I love Parfumerie Generale. On my skin it smelled like musty old leather and men's shaving products, but yes, with a powdery sweetness, I'll give them that-- not a good thing. It wasn't a creamier, more leathery Cuir Beluga, which is what I wanted. The drydown reminds me a little of Cuir Beluga, but that's as far as that comparison goes. This is much more leathery than I wanted, of which I am not a fan, and more masculine. People who like leather and sweet fragrances should like this one, but if you thought you'd love it, like I did, because you love L'Artisan Dzing! and Guerlain Cuir Beluga, you may be surprised and disappointed like I am. For reference, some PGs I like are Un Crime Exotique, Aomassai, Musc Maori, and Cadjmere. Notes: Cistus Labdanum, Liqueur of Davana, Benzoin, Leather

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Fragrances -Demeter - Honey Lavender Special Edition

lilacterp 6/6/2008 11:10:00 PM

Honey and lavender... one of my favorite combinations. I fell in love with these two ingredients when I was in France and purchased a jar of Miel de Lavande or Lavender Honey to use with my teas. I love putting honey in my tea, and lavender honey is perfect to sweeten it up. A while ago, I learned that Demeter had a Special Edition fragrance called Honey Lavender, and I was sad that it had been discontinued. But just recently, I found a bottle of Demeter Honey Lavender Special Edition, and I couldn't believe my luck. I am happy to say that it was a great purchase. This is an extremely good scent! It actually lasts quite a while by Demeter standards, and it is simply a beautiful combination of lavender and honey. The honey really smells authentic, and the lavender does as well. It has a perfect and equal balance between the honey and lavender notes. It's a simple, but very comforting perfume, and I am quite fond of it. It's not too sweet or synthetic smelling-- it really smells like natural honey and lavender. Amazing how accurate it is! I can almost imagine sitting in a lavender field in Provence while honey bees buzz around the beautiful lavender flowers. Honey Lavender is especially nice to wear before bedtime. Pure bliss. So sad this is no longer made, and I will be even more sad when my little 1-oz bottle is gone. Great stuff, and no doubt one of Demeter's best creations.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Gianni Campagna-Vento Canale

lilacterp 6/6/2008 12:28:00 AM

Gianni Campagna Vento Canale was totally worth paying the hefty price and shipping and handling costs in Euros from first-in-fragrance in Germany, and I am so glad I bought it. It seems that only FIF is carrying this at the present time, but Luckyscent might get it someday, as is usually the case. Vento Canale is " "The perfume creation with the euphonious name "Vento Canale" characterizes the scent of the wind, which blows through Messine and the flavour of salty air." " I didn't know what to expect this scent to smell like the first time I tried it-- the notes sounded interesting and different, with a unique blend. I was curious to try it because of its cacao, honey, raspberry, and vanilla and because a dear MUAer was really loving it. At first I didn't fall that hard for it, but it eventually worked its charms on my nose. Now, I am truly loving it. It is a comfort fragrance that is not bold or overwhelming, neither masculine nor feminine-- quite a perfect scent for both sexes. It has characterisitics in common with L'Artisan Bois Farine, but Vento Canale is the better scent, in my view. It's richer and more sophisticated. I guess you could say it's a skin scent, in a rich, cozy way. It is just sweet enough to appeal to gourmand/sweet perfumes lovers, as the tobacco, vetiver, amber, curry herb, and pine balm combine seamlessly with the more sweet and edible notes of honey, raspberry, cacao, and vanilla. I smell the most wonderful melange of cacao and honey, as well as tobacco, but what really makes this scent great is the raspberry note-- it truly enhances the other notes to perfection. I don't smell the musk or if I do, it's super light. The thing I would perhaps change about it to improve it is to make it saltier to give it more of that salty beach wind scent the description mentions. Overall, the notes really blend beautifully so there are no sharp edges of one note dominating another and thereby disturbing its deliciously warm and comforting smoothness. I do wish this was an eau de parfum instead of an eau de toilette because on me, it doesn't have much lasting power. And the bottle-- I'm not sure what it's meant to be-- Gianni Campagna is a tailor, and there is a drawing of a pair of scissors on the front of the bottle. I'm thinking maybe the bottle is supposed to be some sort of tailoring object due to the strange-looking cap. So yes, this is great juice, and I am really adoring this Italian creation, even at 70 Euros plus s&h for a 100ml-bottle that I'm going through at a rapid pace. I highly recommend sampling or buying Vento Canale. It's one of those rare addictive gems that you stumble upon once in a while in the perfume world. NOTES: Head: caribbean rum, clary sage, carrot seeds, davana; Heart: cedar, lily; Base: curry herb, ambra, tobacco, musk, honey, raspberry, vanilla, cacao, pine balm, vetiver. EDITED: According to the firstinfragrance Web site, the Gianni Campagna bottles were designed based on a traditional Sicilian incense burner that was used to fragrance rooms. I guess I was wrong about the bottle looking like some tailoring tool. Good to know. :)

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Mauboussin Emotion Divine

lilacterp 4/18/2008 3:55:00 PM

From Osmoz.com: "Emotion Divine marks Mauboussin’s return to perfumery. This sweet, gourmand fragrance was inspired by childhood memories. Waves of caramel, white peach, passion flower and green leaves blend with the round spiciness of mango and white pepper. The ‘ingenuously luxurious’ bottle is based on a milk bottle. Eau de parfum 1 fl. oz. (€39), 1.7 fl. oz. (€53) and 3.4 fl. oz. (€74). Available exclusively from Marionnaud fragrance boutiques." Perfumer Alexandra Kosinski created this charming scent launched in 2007 to center around a "salty gourmand accord inspired by savory buttery caramels" (quote taken from The Scented Salamander Blog review).

Ahhh, I often daydream of spending a summer, or really, any season or amount of time in... Provence. The things I have read and heard and seen about that area of France have me mesmerized with visions of lavender fields, honey, poppies, fleur de sel, amazing produce and fantastic sights. Mauboussin Emotion Divine embodies for me a carefree childhood spent in Provence, with all the deliciousness of that sensory experience.

The initial attraction for me to this scent was the note of salted butter caramel. I love-- no --adore salted butter caramels, ever since I bought some when I was in France last year. Caramels without French sea salt (fleur de sel) are just not anywhere as good, in my view. So, when I read the notes for Emotion Divine, I went ahead and bought it untried, because they looked irresistible to me. While not as perfect in reality as it read on screen, Emotion Divine accomplishes what I wanted this fragrance to do for me: take me to a Provencal summer. There I am, sitting outside under a shady tree full of GREEN LEAVES in the gorgeous Provence countryside, having a picnic and eating juicy, just-picked fruit at their most delicious peak of ripeness. My mouth is watering from eating the luscious fruits, like BITTER ORANGE, WHITE PEACH, and MANGO. While sitting there, I am embraced by a caressing breeze from the colorful and verdant landscape, the air infused with the scent of the colorful PASSION FLOWER from nearby to as far as the eyes can see. Then, for dessert, I eat a purely blissful freshly homemade gourmet SALTED BUTTER CARAMEL made with just a careless dash of WHITE PEPPER and VANILLA, and drink a cold glass of MILK. After such indulgence and gluttony, I take a nap, lazily, and as if melting under a gentle blanket of soft and sweet VELVET MUSK. Life is good en Provence, non? :) This is my interpretation of this perfume... it is a scent I treasure for this reason. Emotion Divine lasts an average amount of time on my skin, and my favorite part is the drydown, when I get a salty and sweet fruity skin scent that is so lovely. The notes I discern the most in this are the green leaves, peach, mango, and vanilla. The overall impression is one of tart rhubarb-- not so much caramel, vanilla, and milk. It's much greener and fruitier than sweet and foody. There is definitely a green-ness to this fragrance, but it's nicely rounded with the sweet and fruity notes, as well as the whisper-light musk.

I bought this perfume from Marionnaud in Paris last year-- I'm not sure if it's available in the U.S.A. yet. The bottle it comes in is an old-fashioned glass-milk-bottle-inspired bottle, but modernized with silver stars and silver cap. The juice itself is a refreshing summery green color in the clear bottle. I'm really enjoying this fruity-gourmand-oriental-vanilla fragrance, and it does indeed make me think of sweet memories of my childhood, even though it was not in Provence.

NOTES: Bitter Orange, Green Leaves, White Pepper, Salted Butter Caramel, Passion Flower, White Peach, Mango, Vanilla, Milky Notes, Velvet Musk.

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Fragrances -L'Occitane - Honey & Lemon (Miel et Citron) [DISCONTINUED]

lilacterp 2/26/2008 10:28:00 PM

From L'Occitane's Web site: Honey & Lemon Eau de Toilette HEAD: - Italian lemon - Cinnamon HEART: - Honey from Provence - Delicious Caramel BASE: - Vanilla - Patchouli Honey and Lemon is a combination that brings to mind a hot cup of tea, but this fragrance is more complex than honey and lemon. It has caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, and even patchouli along with the honey and lemon. Not that I detect patchouli really, which is a good thing, otherwise it would be another Angel clone. I prefer this scent to the about-to-be discontinued L'Occitane Honey Gentle Water, as it's sweeter and more wearable for me. They smell like two very different honey fragrances. It's a sugary perfume, but it's also very light, so it's not a sugar overdose. The honey and lemon are most prominent in the top notes, and the drydown is more of a caramelized sugary honey skin scent. I wish my skin smelled naturally like the drydown of this perfume. It's delicious, and it just smells good. Comforting more than sexy, but appropriate for any occasion nontheless. The lasting power is disappointing, but average for an eau de toilette, I guess. And I love L de Lolita Lempicka, and while I see some resemblance, they are nowhere that similar to me and my nose. L is much more sophisticated and heavier, and I much prefer it to this L'Occitane scent. They are not interchangeable, but if you like one, you may like the other as well.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

Fragrances -Ava Luxe - Turkish Vanilla

lilacterp 11/9/2007 12:55:00 PM

Turkish Vanilla is a delight. I have the eau de parfum version of it, and it is truly mouthwatering but not too foody. I get from it a spicy vanilla, sweet and rich, with lots of cinnamon, a little amber, and yes, coconut even. The ambrette is there, too, to softly add a dimension to the woodiness of the sandalwood, perhaps. The ambrette almost gives the scent a little bitterness that totally enhances the composition, taking away some of the sweetness of all the other notes. I don't really detect any musk in this, except for maybe the last faint whiffs left on my skin after the scent has worn off. All the notes work well together. I see where this could be compared to Organza Indecence, though the two are not exact mirror images of each other by any means. Turkish Vanilla is sumptuous and lovely for cool days. It's a warm, sweet fragrance that is one of my top Ava Luxe scents. I don't smell anything plastic-like in the eau de parfum I have. I can also see where the coconut association comes in-- I do get a spicy coconut and vanilla scent. A good choice for those who like foody-smelling vanilla-cinnamon scents, and even those who like coconut fragrances as well.

Ava Luxe description: Turkish Vanilla is deep and woody with hints of amber and cinnamon. Ambrette seed lends a slightly musky drydown. Category: GOURMAND / SPICE / WOOD

NOTES: Vanilla Bean, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Ambrette Seed, Sandalwood, Amber. GOURMAND / SPICE / WOOD

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Fragrances -Molinard - Pomme Cannelle Apple Cinnamon EDT

lilacterp 11/3/2007 11:19:00 PM

I was looking for a spicier version of Brandy, an apple and spice fragrance, so I thought an apple-cinnamon scent would be very fitting. I've been craving sweet apple perfumes this fall, so I went ahead and bought Molinard Pomme-Cannelle without trying it first. It is a very pleasant sweet apple fragrance, and if you like apple and cinnamon scents, it's a good one to try. It has an equal amount of apple and cinnamon, with the top notes being more cinnamon-y and then softening into a sweet red apple scent with a sprinkle of sweet cinnamon. It works well, and although a simple fragrance, it's a really good apple scent for fall. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, but the lasting power is not terrific. I still prefer Brandy as far as apple perfumes go. Pomme Cannelle/Apple Cinnamon Eau de Toilette is available at Hamptonct.com.

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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Lostmarch Lann-Ael Eau de Toilette

lilacterp 8/14/2007 10:21:00 AM

Lann-Ael means "Angel heath" in Breton. Manufacturer description: "Succulent sweet, feminine nuances. A tender, exciting touch. Nuzzling, caressing fragrances."

I have fallen hard for a fume: Lostmarc'h Lann-Ael is heavenly! Sweet, comforting, and delicious. I got a sample from First-in-Fragrance.com yesterday, and within 10 minutes of trying it I had ordered a bottle of it (although I ordered it from the Lostmarc'h Web site itself since it was a little cheaper than at First-in-Fragrance). It smells amazing, sort of like Gabriele Strehle Strenesse and Brandy, but sweeter and creamier, with an incredible cereal/grain top note. I so wish that note would stay around longer, as it vanishes within a few seconds. The perfume itself is fleeting, but the drydown is softly present and like a sweet peaches & apples & cream veil for the skin. The very top notes are incredible, and then it quickly changes into a creamy sweet and fruity skin scent. It really is perfect for nuzzling and cuddling. Not exactly sexy, but more like comforting and good for hugs, kisses, and cuddles under a cashmere throw. It's like a bowl of warm oatmeal with sweet vanilla & milk cream stirred in, topped with peach and apple slices. It's not the most unique fragrance or the most complex, but it works for me and has become an instant favorite. It's definitely a gourmand/foody sweet scent, so if you like those types, Lann-Ael may be great for you, as it is for me. I haven't loved something so much since Lolita Lempicka L and Davies Gate Cloudcake! Can't wait to get the whole bottle from France, as my sample is pretty much gone already. Lann-Ael comes in a 100 ml/3.4 oz eau de toilette, shower gel, body lotion, and soap bar. Currently, the EDT retails for 45 Euros on Lostmarc'h's Web site, but it is also available at First-in-Fragrance.com for 55 Euros.

NOTES: Buckwheat, Other Cereals, Whiffs Of Milk, Apple, and Vanilla.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you?   Yes     No

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