Fragrances -Caron - Pour Une Femme de Caron
ocpunk1 7/15/2008 7:05:00 PM
I agree with several of the reviewers that there is an odd note here, but it quickly dissipates into a smooth blend of flowers and spices that I find very comforting. It reminds me of Kenzo's Amour, in that there is a foody quality underlying it. The new book on perfume says it smells like stewed fruit with spices, and in a way it does, which might acount for the sharp tanginess of the opening notes (like cooked dried apricots). It certainly doesn't have the dramatic qualities of some other Carons, like Parfum Sacre or Tabac Blonde (both of which I love), but I really like it for its homely qualities and nice scent.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - The Different Company - Bois d' Iris
ocpunk1 7/8/2008 9:41:00 PM
I got a sample of this, and at first I liked it. But the more I smelled it, the more it reminded me of something very familiar, and it took me forever to realize what it was, because I haven't smelled it in almost 40 years. It smells like my grandma did. She passed away in 1966 or 67, and I have no idea what kind of perfume she wore. But she had blue hair and wore a lot of powder, as grandmas did then, and I think it's probably the powdery aspect that this fragrance reminds me of. I think that's why I liked it, but then ultimately decided that I, personally, didn't want to smell like it, though. She was a wonderful grandma!
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Fragrances -L'Artisan Fragrances - Safran Troublant
ocpunk1 6/19/2008 2:04:00 AM
I got a sample of this a long time ago and was watching a bottle on e-bay, so decided that I'd pull the sample out to see if I liked it enough to buy a bottle. No. It smells pleasant enough, though I mostly get the vanilla out of it. In that regard, it smells to me like a very very pale imitation of SL Un Bois Vanille. I did not get the rose AT ALL, and now that I remember, I swapped for this sample because I collect rose fragrances. Last, like most of the L'Artisans that I've tried, it smells very faint on me; even the BF noticed that aspect.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Tubéreuse Criminelle
ocpunk1 6/18/2008 5:57:00 PM
I can't say I'm crazy about tuberose scents; for example, Fracas makes me gag. The only one I've ever liked at all is the Le Labo, which is smoky and dark. I can't say I'm bringing anything new to the table with this review on the SL interpretation of tuberose. I, too, get the methol/mothballs thing, and also agree that it smells better after it settles down. I don't agree that it smells like "real" tuberose flowers; there's too much menthol in it, however, it does capture what to me is the coldness of the tuberose scent, mainly through the menthol aspect. I also get the whole "funeral" thing from this fragrance, which I also do from Fleurs de Citronnier. I think it's a floral, cold, damp quality that they share. Not for me. :)
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Fragrances -Etro - Shaal Nur
ocpunk1 6/11/2008 4:39:00 PM
I am in a bind with this fragrance. I have a couple of samples and have been wearing it for awhile, trying to make up my mind about it. I don't really like the top notes; I don't know if it's the lemon or what, but it comes across at first as too MUSTY for my taste, reminding me of a really powerfully scented head shop from the '70s. On the drydown, it is quite pleasant, although either the patchouli or the sandalwood note sticks out a bit from the rest of the composition, again, hearkening back to those places and that time period. Shortly after I received a sample of this, I also received samples of Bond No. 9 AW Silver Factory and CdG's Incense Series Avignon. I really love them, too, and appreciate that they are a little sweeter and a little less "curry" scented than the Shaal Nur. And on the drydown, all are very similar. What to buy, what to buy... AWSF is SO expensive, CdG and Shaal Nur are pretty close in price... I'll have to append a note on what I decide to do. :) If anyone has any response to this, please post. :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Balmain - Jolie Madame
ocpunk1 5/30/2008 6:31:00 PM
I got a vintage bottle from a fellow MUA-er who has been my fragrance mentor since I joined up. I loved it immediately, especially the tobacco notes, which jumped out at me. I usually cannot wear white florals, especially jasmine, but somehow this works on me. I DO have to agree with one reviewer here who wrote that the sweet top notes reminded her of bananas. I am not a big Bandit fan, although I see the resemblence, with Bandit being the darker fragrance. I feel very sophisticated wearing this and also agree with the many reviewers who wrote that it seems like something a Hitchcock movie heroine would wear, especailly Kim Novak, in my mind. Thanks again, LISA!!!!
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Fragrances -Demeter - Dulce de Leche PMU
ocpunk1 5/28/2008 4:00:00 PM
I swapped for this, figuring I'd give it to my daughter who is into the Demeters adn other foodie scents. She really loves it, but I found it to be pretty bland, just a vaguely caramel scent, with stronger vanilla notes. I prefer the Angel Food Cake scent to this one.
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Fragrances -Demeter - Bonfire p.m.u.
ocpunk1 5/28/2008 3:58:00 PM
I put it on, sniffed, and thought, "oh, this smells so familiar!" I couldn't put my finger on it; it was more than just a smoky smell. Then I shared it with several other people, who informed me that I smelled "exactly like BARBECUE SAUCE". So I'm on the bandwagon with those who mention the porky/hot dog notes in it. And I love bonfires, just not smelling like GRILLED MEAT.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Demeter - Thunderstorm
ocpunk1 5/28/2008 3:44:00 PM
I agree with a previous reviewer that this product smells exactly like the environment AFTER a thunderstorm -- I smell water, dirt, and crushed green leaves. It is very potent, and I noticed the wet dirt smell most of all. I let a couple of other people sniff, and they all said they smelled the dirt most of all. I don't see myself wearing this ever, as I don't want to smell like the items I mentioned, but I give it major props for recreating the smell with such veracity and so potently.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Celestial Smoke
ocpunk1 5/28/2008 3:38:00 PM
I put this on, inhaled, and I smelled the overwhelming smell of "lavatory soap". I let my daughter smell it, and she said she thought it smelled awful, but informed me that "no one says 'lavatory soap' any more". I wiped it off my hand hastily, and the residue smells like a "head" shop, if people say THAT any more -- patchouli, sandalwood...
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Fragrances -Dawn Spencer Hurwitz - Sensual Spice
ocpunk1 5/28/2008 3:32:00 PM
Smells like cinnamon toothpicks and lasts forever. Might be great for wearing on the playground at elementary school, but otherwise, leave it alone!
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Chene
ocpunk1 3/26/2008 12:51:00 PM
This is my current favorite of all the Serge Lutens I've tried. I smell butter rum lifesavers at first, morphing into the woody smell of a lumber yard's fresh cut wood, when you stand right next to the guy cutting wood. It reminds me of being very very young, and my mom took me, my brother and my baby sister to a lumber yard to buy us some blocks to play with. An employee cut them right then and there, and they were always among my favorite toys to play with. I loved the texture, the density of the wood, the infinite possibilities of building with them. I also am reminded of golden oak floors baking in the sun coming through a window, or taking a walk in the autumn woods. I always get lots of compliments when wearing this, and I cannot stop smelling my wrist when wearing it. I don't consider it to be a particularly masculine scent; I think anyone could wear it as long as their chemistry meshed with it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Encens et Lavande
ocpunk1 3/17/2008 5:41:00 PM
I LOVE lavender, so I knew that I would like this to some degree. I am also a big fan of Gris Clair, which I prefer over this. I'm not sure why; I think I like the "darker" feel of the latter during the drydown stage. That said, this is a very nice lavender fragrance, and I probably would consider owning if I didn't already own the latter. I think it works for men or women.
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Fragrances -Serge Lutens - Muscs Koublai Khan
ocpunk1 3/17/2008 5:35:00 PM
Wow, I can't get over the number of people who found this sexy, sexual, dirty, etc. It just smells like a fairly non-descript, mildly sweet, slightly spicy scent. It reminded me a bit of Jicky, probably because it also, has a civet note. It's too sweet for my taste, and just boring to me. Eh!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hermes - Un Jardin sur le Nil
ocpunk1 2/14/2008 11:14:00 PM
Smells like something you'd wash or condition your hair with, fruity and healthy, but not very sensual or appealing. I really just smell grapefruit.
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