Currently sampling Lipstick Fever and I must say it is not as expected but still a nice fragrances. The title might be a bit misleading as it does not truely resemble a lipstick scent. For a good half n hour I get this nice warm sweet strong raspberry note, which is very pleasant and fun to wear. The raspberry note fades away after one hour on me and leaves a dry Iris and Cedar wood combo, which is not as spectacular for me. If you are looking for a true Lipstick scent, I would recommend Lipstick Rose by FM. But Lipstick Fever is a great raspberry scent in my opinion. This scent lasts a very long time, around 6 h. Might work better for autumn and winter though.
Bacio Immortale is the second fragrance I’ve tried from the house of Argos, and another let down yet again. This is a blatant copy of Tuscan Leather - which is a scent I find repulsive. The overwhelmingly sweet raspberry alongside that thick, heady leather accord is well known in the fragrance community as a ‘love it or hate it’ combination. For me, I can’t stand it. I appreciate Tuscan Leather is massively popular and a cultural classic, but this is just a basic clone with little to nothing of worth being added. Overall this is a boring, sickly scent which simply isn’t nice in my eyes. If you’re a lover of Tuscan Leather you’ll likely enjoy this, but if that’s the case you might as well just get Tuscan Leather.
Dahn Oud Ateeque is claimed to only be composed of aged Indian oud and nothing else, which is very interesting considering the variety of different notes people are voting for on fragrantica. This definitely has complexity to it. The oud itself is dry and earthy, it’s got dark connotations with very gentle animalistic edges. However, it’s also got a definite freshness about it - this is very reminiscent of soapy white florals and citrus fruits, but apparently these are not present whatsoever. This fragrance is actually very affordable, and so I suppose the quality is actually very good considering. It’s not a love for me but that doesn’t make this a bad scent, I actually think it’s great for the right person.
Buveur de Vent is my first encounter with Liquides Imaginaires, and it’s definitely motivated me to go out and discover more from this house. This scent is a gorgeously unique and captivating aromatic leather scent with heaps of masculinity herbal charm. The leather accord is dry and thick, quite old school and musty at the same time which is contrasted by sharp aromatics of cypress and sage which give it an almost fougere feel. A heavy dose of soft cedar and creamy mosses are furthered by the sweet fruitiness of juniper and herbaceous greenness of tarragon. All of these notes envision an old leather knapsack resting on an earthy, mossy forest floor. Overall this is a fantastic scent, a really unique take on leather and a fragrance which I’ve rarely seen anyone talk about.
I can see the slight comparisons to Santal 33 as it has a similar feel to the base however the tart “pickle” note in the Le Labo is replaced here with spice and orris. I have Santal 33 also and to be honest I prefer to wear this, it’s a much smoother wear. It opens with a blast of black pepper, I don’t personally get much coffee at all but as the pepper dies down it’s replaced with a earthly orris. This to me is very different to the iris in something like Dior homme and more similar to MC Iris Malikhan or some of the Celine line. Performance is quite good but it’s not a loud fragrance, all the better for this scent profile. It feels much classier and more expensive than the price you pay. If I blind smelled this and you told me it was a niche house at £150+ a bottle I would believe it. Haven’t smelled many from Zara but I’ll be checking more out based from this one.
I have been thinking lately in which scent Lilac is performing in the most blooming and natural way. The answer is PIERRE DE VELAY LES CLOCHETTES DU BONHEUR BY Roja Dove - the perfect scent for springtime. It opens up with fresh glorious Lilac which immediately takes me to the nostalgic journey to my childhood when we had a garden full of Lilac bushes. Opulent Lily-of-the-Valley intertwines with Lilac bringing light green and soapy touch to the scent. There is not that much sweetness despite of Amaryllis and Ylang-Ylang nor the overly rich texture or sourness which the latter one often offers so the fragrance maintains its mild, bright and fresh character and Lily-of-the-Valley is the star of the show accompanied innocently and beautifully by Lilac. The brand nominates Jasmine as a main note and it may be that Lilac plays such a big role for me in this because of the memories. There are Jasmine like aromas In Lilac and LiLy so the combination of those flowers unfolds seamlessly creating the harmonious cloud. The base is only supporting the concoction without being creamy nor dominant but it turns somewhat intoxicating opening into very indulgent, classy and soft composition. Les Clochettes du Bonheur is utterly charming and subtle, delicate floral for all Lilac and Lily-of-the-Valley lovers who respect the natural luxurious olfactive experience. Notes Top: Bergamot Middle: Lily-of-the-Valley, Lilac, Jasmine, Amaryllis, Ylang-Ylang Base: Musk, Sandalwood Thank you for reading and if you want to follow me on IG: @ninamariah_perfumes
This one is clearly unisex. On my skin it leans a bit more masculine, but it might be the fact, that I usually wear scent that do have at least some sweet notes. I find NOT A PERFUME fresh and clean, it sits close to the skin, so it will most likely not offend anyone. Nothing mindblowing though. In comparison, I would go with Glossier as the scent profile suits me much better. Still a nice scent for many occassions and I see why many like it.
Over the course of my fragrance journey I’d seen endless hype around Triumph of Bacchus and so I was very keen to see what all the excitement was about. I was underwhelmed to say the least. It’s a pleasant, sweet and boozy gourmand with fruity elements - in a similar vein to Side Effect but better. The rum accord is nice I’ll admit, it’s not too strong but noticeable enough to give the scent some edge. The juiciness of green apple with dry peach creates a sweet aura which is then furthered by the creamy indulgence of vanilla and tonka - I don’t really get much tobacco. It’s a pleasant scent and an enjoyable wear but if I’m honest my expectations were higher. I’ve heard the extrait is better so maybe I’ll give that a go, but for now I will enjoy my sample but have no interest in buying a bottle.
I’ve never understood the desire behind combining oud and tuberose, I’ve yet to find an example where it actually works. Lunosa is a pretty good example of how easy it is to stick something in a pretty bottle and get away with charging obscene prices for a mediocre scent. This fragrance is dominated by a dry, ashy tobacco alongside a hefty dose of oud - synthetic I’m assuming. A rich, sultry cypriol emerges with its unforgiving and powerful embrace, which is when the white florals come through and ruin it for me. The tuberose is thick and heady, intensely soapy and slightly gummy backed up by and even cleaner gardenia. Every other aspect of this scent I enjoy. But I find the clean soapiness of tuberose combined with the dirty aspect of oud just makes it smell a bit like public toilets which haven’t been cleaned properly - I had the same issue with EO Green from Ensar Oud. It’s a pleasant scent I suppose, but £740 is a joke.
Nebulous is simply stunning - a contemporary and refined scent for a wealthy but subdued individual. It seems to create a perfect balance of the innocent beauty of soft flowers, with the animalistic capture of oud. As I’ve mentioned before in previous reviews, I’m unsure if Boadicea even uses natural oud but who knows. The oud note is front and centre here, initially it comes across rather medicinal and sticks to the back of your throat. This soon calms down however, revealing a sophisticated and lustrous concoction of sweet saffron, gentle rose and a significant allure of powdery violet. I must say I love this fragrance - the perfect balance of exotic oud with that unmistakable powdery, makeup-ey floral aspect is absolutely divine. Would I pay over a £1,000 for a bottle? Absolutely not. Despite how amazing this smells, there are other fragrances I love far more for much less money.
I’ll be honest, I’ve not tried the original Blue Sapphire so it feels strange to be reviewing Supercharged first - obviously I can’t compare between the two but this is a gorgeous scent. It absolutely screams power, strength and masculinity. Initially I get a huge burst of tart and juicy fruits, most notably sharp mandarin and sweet raspberry. A massively warm and intoxicating cardamom swirls around gentle touches of soapy rose and light jasmine, to reveal a dank and punchy oud note. The fruits seem to persist as earthy patchouli and punchy leather resonate, however the oud and cardamom dominate the senses. There’s no doubt this is a good perfume, great even. But does it smell like something that costs just under a thousand British pounds? No it does not. Who knows if they use real oud or not, I couldn’t seem to find any information on their website regarding their source for oud so I’m unsure - but what I do know is that despite how lovely this scent is it doesn’t smell like it costs more than £300 unfortunately.
Smells exactly like one of the oud moods of MFK. Talk about being late to the party, coming out with this type of scent when basically eveyone has had enough of this scent profile. It smells like an obnoxious rich person.
Sludgy, sickly, nauseating and generic, cheap smelling. Bleurgh.
I wish I had kept all the empty bottles of Classique. It was my signature for many years since it was released. I have worn at least 15 bottles. I have had many flankers of it during the years but this Classique Intense I love the most. It’s not so similar with the og which the name makes you think. It’s made of two separate units: 40% of the fragrance is the original creation, and 60% are new, added components. However, the original is not totally same formula anymore (I was lucky to find great vintage ones) which it used to be so I don’t know about these figures. For me this is completely the different scent with some of the same notes in it. Classique Intense is very mellow and seductive, it’s classy and solar. It radiates the warmth and light around you. White florals are mostly hidden under the thick honeyed golden base of Vanilla and Patchouli. The base is surprisingly different from what you might think of the notes. This is sweet but not sugary and Vanilla is not obvious edible either. I don’t think this at all as a gourmand despite of creamy and fruity Tiare Flower and Pomegranate in the opening. The scent feels somewhat oriental take on white florals and all the notes are blended perfectly together. Like the og this may cause headache because of its intoxicating intensity. Edit: If you love Classique Intense and don't want to pay crazy ebay prices, you should try Elie Saab Le Parfum (it's edp). It's made by Francis Kurkdjian as well (2011) and it's smelling quite similar intensive white florals with solar feeling and honey like sweetness. Flowers are a bit more heady first and there is not Vanilla so JPG feels somewhat more balanced in the beginning. JPG maintains an intense slightly more complex aroma while Le Parfum turns into more subtle and delicate one. It unfolds into an incredibly well balanced scent which feels fluffy and velvety soft. They are not like identical twins but siblings with a lot of same dna. There is not so much differences in the dry down. Elie Saab Le Parfum you can still find and in a very good price and look at that bottle! It’s so cute! My bottle is from 2016 and I haven't tried the most new formulas but since there is not that kind of IFRA regulated ingredients I assume that it hasn't changed so much. Thank you for reading and if you want to follow me on IG: @ninamariah_perfumes
I didn’t have any expectations for this new release but I didn’t think it would be anything so special either. Interestingly, contrary to the opinions of many others, in my opinion, this version is more reminiscent of A III than A II. Notes of Rose and Lavender appear stronger than the other notes in the opening and in the middle, as they do in A III. Anniversary is like a weaker (not diluted though) and more wearable version of III and it can be over sprayed easily without being suffocating. Oud and the woody notes appear more like in A II since those are not so strong than in A III. If I'm thinking the different accords you can find more similarities with A III than with A II. This didn’t steal my heart as A III develops pretty much into this one within a few hours and it’s more unique but if you prefer a tamed version this may be for you. This short review is based on a sample and I'm not going to purchase a full bottle. Thank you for reading and if you want to follow me on IG: @ninamariah_perfumes
Nothing but javanol.
Something about the names of these perfumes seems a bit bleak to me, like they were conceived in the midst of some sort of crestfallen manic episode. The perfumes themselves are unremarkable. The bad pun names are the most interesting thing here, and they're not interesting.
Wanted to like this. Just not me. Too old school. Notes just don’t grab me.
Dia(rrhea)betes. Pooey, vomity, sickly sweet caramel, bubblegum, haribo, poo.
Archives 69 is an interesting scent from ELDO, one that I’m not entirely sure I enjoy. It combines the worlds of intense warm spices with aromatic green florals in a way which feels slightly off-putting in my opinion. It features an overdose of pink pepper and fry paprika which I think is the element I can’t get past. A thick, smoky incense is combined with this overwhelmingly green and herbal note of camphor which is very unusual. From here there’s elements of orchid and plum but they’re very subtle. Overall this is not the sort of fragrance I enjoy, I’m simply not a fan of the notes utilised here but I won’t deny it feels well made.
Santal Sky is another creamy, lactonic sandalwood scent which wasn’t really needed on the market to be honest. Sandalwood at the forefront with hints of sweet saffron and aromatic vetiver, it’s not a very interesting scent profile but it’s pleasant enough. This has the same sharp pickled feel of Santal 33 which many brands seem to have copied in the past few years, Santal 33 is a fragrance that I love and so I actually enjoy this aspect of the scent. It’s then got this strong creamy, milky facet which feels reminiscent to VC&A Santal Blanc, it smooths everything out nicely. Overall this is a pleasant scent, it’s nice to wear but fairly boring and forgettable in my opinion. I would much rather just stick with Santal 33.
This is an absolutely abysmal fragrance, one of those scents where you really lose faith in the market. As anyone could have easily guessed, D Red is a horrifically obnoxious concoction of cheap, messy materials and screechy aroma chemicals. It’s dominated by this weird note of grapefruit, which couldn’t smell farther from anything remotely natural. Combine this with the horrifically bad quality lavender than most designer scents seem to use these days, and you’ve got a migraine in a bottle. Overall, this is simply disgusting. A very poorly made scent with no interest or appeal, there’s nothing else that can be said about it.
Dior Homme Sport is a fresh peppery scent which definitely does define the idea of a clean, athletic scent which is easy to wear. However, it bears a massive similarity to Dior Homme 2020 so you have to question the necessity of its existence. It opens very fresh with invigorating notes of lemon and bergamot, alongside a sharp heart of pink pepper. It’s got the exact same woody, Iso E Super base used in Homme 2020 which I’ll admit is a great smell. It feels very clean, simplistic and refreshing to wear. Overall it’s not a particularly exciting scent, I already own Homme 2020 and this is too similar to warrant owning as well. Despite being very obviously made up of synthetic molecules it still smells relatively high quality which can be expected from Dior.
I was always wary of Clive Christian’s marketing claiming their formulation of Town & Country was Winston Churchill’s signature scent. It felt like such a modern and contemporary fragrance, it seemed unlikely such a scent was released in 1925. When I finally got a bottle of the ORIGINAL Town & Country by The Crown Perfumery, I realised the truth. This is a very classical aromatic fougere, extremely masculine and authentically old school, reminiscent of the time period. The lavender in here is phenomenal - photorealistic as though the plant is right in front of you. I also get a strong burst of sharp citruses which isn’t listed but definitely seems to be there, alongside the intensely aromatic and herbaceous contrast of sage, thyme and Rosemary. This definitely feels more like a scent Winston Churchill would actually wear, Clive Christian’s false marketing strikes again it seems. If you’re a lover of classical fougeres this is a must try - I’m not usually a fougere lover but I adore this scent.
Pierre de Velay 56 is an incredibly underrated scent from the line, it’s one of those fragrances where you can barely even pick out what you’re smelling because everything is so perfectly blended. Overall this is definitely a fresh spicy scent, combining the worlds of Chypre and oriental together. Initially it opens rather fresh with zippy bergamot and clean lavender, before beginning to develop an array of robust spices including black pepper, cumin, cinnamon and nutmeg which overall provides that fresh spicy aspect. A gentle, thick oud lingers in the background alongside robust leather and sweet saffron which elevates the oriental aspect of the scent, with gentle resins approaching. The scent maintains all of this whilst becoming incredible smooth, creamy and slightly powdery from the soft impressions of orris, violet and sandalwood with a lingering amber accord in the background. This scent is complex, there’s so much going on all at once as is fairly usual with Pierre de Velay. Overall however it smells absolutely divine, it’s incredibly versatile and smells amazingly unique. This is pure class and sophistication in a bottle and deserves much more love.
