Sugar-dusted, dewy, green tuberose and lily flowers on a spring morning. Delicate and fleeting, too fleeting if I'm honest. It's criminally short-lived for the price, but it is so beautiful. It does have sligtly more projection than I first thought, but only for an hour or so. As with most in the line, it's more than meets the eye at first. I'm gonna say it's a love, despite the performance. Perhaps you can't have such a sparkling, delicate beauty and expect it to belt out for hours on end. Update - after a couple of hours, the florals are basically gone and I'm left with a creamy, tart vetiver scent, which is lovely, but totally unrelated to the opening. I still love it, ignoring the price (I didn't pay top dollar for it), but it's one of those scents where I'll crave the opening again one hour in, and so I could end up burning through it FAST. Update: came back to this after months and the vanilla is super strong. The opening is pretty similar to Angéliques Noires. Perhaps I prefer it in cooler weather.
This for me is a true testament to the power of branding. For all intents and purposes it's pretty heavy on the feminine branding, yet if this was in a traditionally masculine guise I wouldn't bat an eyelid. That being said, it doesn't resemble any other perfume (OK it has a little in common with L'Instant de L'Homme by Guerlain, voilà, that's a masculino patchouli chocolate scent). This is a wonderfully pungent, constantly evolving slap to the face. Addictive and somehow gourmand but not gourmand (a trait I'm picking up on in many Mugler scents). I'm not sure I'm ready to pull this off yet, but I've thought that before and then found myself loving a perfume I reckoned I'd never wear For a designer house, Mugler keels it real, brash and bold, but without entering into the screechy side of designer hell (Sauvage, anyone?).
This myrrh perfume is perfect for the summer with its refreshing orange flower notes. The inclusion of cola-like myrrh in the blend makes it truly unique, along with the florals in it. The scent is not bad at all, and the delightful sweet orange blossoms steal the spotlight. The projection is also quite strong, which is a bonus. However, personally, I find it a bit too soapy for my taste, almost to the point of being overwhelming. It's a shame because the addition of cocoa adds a creamy touch that I usually love in fragrances. On a personal level it also feels a bit too "old" as a scent, probably for that soapiness which I really don't enjoy. Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience to try it out, but I would never invest in a full bottle of this.
Pretty harsh opening, but gosh, it dries down into a wonderful, creamy sandlewood with some fruit stirred into it. I get more pear than rhubarb. The drydown is among my current favourites, and while there's a touch of ambroxan, it doesn't overwhelm, it adds a sort of nuttiness to the whole effect. It's not exactly gourmand, but it's not far off either. Ethereal and unique. Amazing performance too, of course.
Smells very similar to armani cuir Zerzura but more powdery
This is a spectacular perfume. Epitome of class and distinction. It’s not wildly ground breaking but the lemongrass and deertongue give it a herbal axis that the citrus and woods lean against and it works unspeakably. If you like stuff like Terre D Hermes then consider this a vast vast upgrade on performance quality and scent.
This is quite simple, not too complex. I get lots of green tea, a dry powdered ginger and delicate orange blossom. It dries down with a big dose of vanilla. It’s not sweet. It’s fluffy and cozy and leans fem. Performance seems pretty strong and I like it. If you're into tea scents, this is definitely worth your time. Follow me on Instagram: @TheScentiest
Fig
I get fig leaf. It's quite nice, nothing special.
Love it. Lot's of people griping on here about performance. You must be anosmic, I can smell this hours later. The banana blast does subside, and violet comes forward, but then around two hours in it rebalances and I get the banana in a delicate, creamy haze. Any more banana would ruin it for me. It's true genius to be able to create a photorealistic fruit scent with an accord, and it goes to show that with Celine Ellena, the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. Update - longevity is eternal on my skin, incredible! Update - AP store on Rue St Honoré tell me this is discontinued, they're just selling off the last stock.
Followed opens with an intensely powerful and incredibly realistic note of dry roasted coffee beans, its smoky and bitter while remaining utterly delectable. As it begins to settle on the skin, a dark chocolate and sweet caramel note bring some life into the coffee, supported by a soft vanilla and ambery base. This is without a doubt the most realistic coffee note I’ve ever come across, in the opening it doesn’t even smell like a fragrance - more as though you’ve rubbed yourself with coffee beans. Thankfully the sweetness of the other notes balances things beautifully to create something truly unique and delicious. Followed is an incredible fragrance, and while I think many people exaggerate its “beast mode” qualities a bit, it is incredibly strong. This is my first time sampling anything from Kerosene, it’s opened a rabbit whole which compels me to discover more from the house.
Elysium eau Intense smells noticeably different from the original but only for the first 5-10 mins. A tart, fruity opening of sharp rhubarb, juniper and grapefruit lead the way ahead of lavender and tangy citrus. In the heart, florals of jasmine, lily of the valley and rose are backed up by a fruity apple and blackcurrant, just like the original Elysium. The rhubarb starts to fade in the dry down, while the grapefruit and juniper remain constant. They mingle with vetiver, vanilla, thyme and woods alongside a touch of violet leaf and ambergris. The base notes create a masculine aura which supports the light citrus and fruits to give it some lasting power. I would say this is a very pleasant scent from Roja, but it hasn’t wowed me. Once it hits the dry down I don’t think it’s different enough to warrant owning this version of Elysium as well as the original. Personally I prefer the original Elysium much more and will be sticking with it, however this is still a very pleasant and well made scent.
Upon first spray of RDHP15, straight away you’re greeted by the dominant note of the fragrance - peach; It’s creamy and sweet, and smells very realistic. This is backed up by a cocktail of soft citrus and clean aldehydes, before a heart of airy florals develops; namely a powdery violet and labdanum, lily of the valley and iris. As the scent dries down, you’re left with something reminiscent of a classic chypre - leathery labdanum, creamy oakmoss and earthy patchouli create this iconic scent profile, alongside supporting notes of vanilla, sandalwood and a touch of civet. All while the peach stays front and centre to elevate this chypre into something more fruity and playful. RDHP15 does lean feminine however I think it can be worn by both genders if you enjoy fruity florals. The peach can be a bit off putting upon first smelling it, but I’ve grown to love this fragrance and will definitely be buying it at some point. It smells like true delicate and sophisticated luxury, combining both classic and contemporary perfumery perfectly.
PM opens initially with a heady burst of punchy tuberose, backed up by a fruity sharpness from lemon and juniper. An intoxicating array of secret florals including a leathery labdanum and creamy orris add a pungent sensuality that will not go unnoticed. As it settles on the skin, the tuberose powers through a base of leather, labdanum, patchouli and woods - giving the perfume an opulent and regal dry down. This is a powerhouse scent and an absolute beast when it comes to performance, it lasts all day with massive projection and will definitely get you noticed. Combine that with the mouth watering quality of Fragrance du Bois and you’re left with an absolute masterpiece here. I don’t understand those who say this is unwearable, yes it’s very strong but this has to be the best floral leather fragrance I’ve ever smelled. I knew PM would be my signature scent since I first smelled it upon release, and to finally own a bottle now is incredibly special and it leaves me breathless every time I wear it.
I've smelt this a bajillion times before. If you're gonna do Rose Oud, make it stand out, make it mean something. This is no better or worse than countless other samesy same perfumes zzzzzzz.
Headache-inducing ambroxan. Very similar to the equally horrible Eau de Citron Noir by Hermès. Lemon and ambroxan, nothing else.
An easy summer wear with beastly performance. It lasts 24hrs on my skin.
There are quite a lot of PG scents that smell like various cleaning products, and then within that quite a few still that smell specifically like toilet products, and this one is (drum roll)... Urinal cakes! I actually quite like the smell, but lordy lord I don't want to smell of it. I just like it when my toilet smells like that.
Nope, it's not fresh and bright, it's sort of dull and muddy, not a nice patchouli. I think the musk is the culprit here, or perhaps too much heavy wood.
More like fig with clay and/or pistachio rather than caviar, but the overall effect is rather marine. Very interesting and unique. It's maybe my favourite fig scent. It captures and uses every aspect of fig to full effect, creating an arresting, intriguing landscape. I spray a bit more, and now I can sort of get the caviar thing. There's metal, blood and salt becoming almost more prominent but I get the impression this is an aspect of the fig, a figment of the note (sorry) ;D It's a blind buy I don't regret, a bizarre and fascinating perfume which I may or may not ever wear out of the house.
I left this alone for a few months, and now I've come back to it and discovered two things: 1) despite the notes, it's better in cold weather, because, much like Cologne Indélébile, the base musks are too strong for summer, and the powerful nature of the perfume works wonfefully in the cold. 2) there is bubblegum after all. It's salty-sweet, warm and savoury. Basically, I love this perfume and can't believe I'd somewhat written it off. And it's STRONG. Go easy.
Considering this is cheaper than table wine, and considering how many are whingeing on here about performance, I actually think it's spectacular value. It's so cheap you can bathe in it, and it's the be all and end all of cologne scents to me in terms of balance, freshness and shimmer.
This scent is classy and wild at the same time. It reminds me of a cherry liquor, bursting with juicy goodness. As it settles, it turns into a captivating blend of sandalwood, amber, and hints of florals, creating a dark yet clean scent that's quite intriguing. Personally, I'm among the few who can sense prominent oud in this fragrance. It starts off strong, but eventually mellows down to become a subtle skin scent. This fragrance truly transports me to a mystical forest. While it is versatile and suitable for anyone, I can't help but imagine a man wearing it.
Another Pierre Guillaume which immediately serves me window cleaning chemicals. It's like a bad version of Lys Méditerranée.
Nauseatingly horrible. Like some mouldy old rose leaves were used to wrap up some mouldy old mackerel, then dried and turned into pot pourri. Or perhaps some prawns were left in some dishwater that was then used in a vase with some rotting roses left in it. Off doesnt even come close. I honestly think this is the most disgusting perfume I've ever smelt, I'm having a visceral reaction to it, and the seafood rot won't wash off. I've now solidified my opinion that the 90 sample set is a game of Russian Roulette where I'm at least 70% likely to hate what I smell. Lesson learnt. Today I dared revisit it again, and just like with many PG scents, at the opening I'm like "oh it's not that bad", then 2 mins later I start to get the gross, musky fish smell again. Truly awful, especially when there are so many other perfumes that do this so much better... Love Chopard for example, which is dirt cheap and wonderful.
