I’m seriously lagging behind with writing about what I’m sniffing these days. So, I’m not going to review anything today but go through a list of things I tried and my thoughts on them.
A big thank you to Rita from The Left Coast Nose for a lovely package filled with new things to try and notes to learn (I didn’t manage a proper thank you email, but just so you know, the musks have opened my eyes). 🙂
Also in the package were 3 Tom Ford Private Blends. Finally! 🙂 They all smell full and rich and my favorite of the 3 is Bois Rouge which did smell like a masculine but I don’t have a problem with that and it got mellowed with some leather and vanilla.
I thought I might like Tuscan Leather the best of the 3, but never mind – it was ok too. It transported me to my teenage days when summer evenings at the seaside smelled similar. Have no idea why. I smelled the leather and smoke and fruit and thought of guys. 🙂
The only one of 3 I though is a masculine of such order that I would never be able to wear it is Oud Wood. Oh, but I definitely wouldn’t mind my boyfriend wearing it.
I finally got a sample of Fifi Chachnil and I would have sworn there was some almond in it but notes (listed underneath for all the scents I’m talking about) do not list it. I did like it, despite the almond idea I got, I liked the sweet rum-fruity opening and it somehow reminded me of both Chinatown and New Harleem by Bond no. 9 (which are my two Bond favorites) and that tells you I like it. 🙂
Party in Manhattan – I’ll be giving this more wrist time, it’s a learning experience like the musks. I seem not to have reached the level where Mitsouko-like fragrances do anything for me. I read the reviews for this and thought, Ok, I’m definitely missing something, it just reminds me of ladies of old (as in the past and not young). Like I said, I need to learn more.
Lorenzo Villoresi Donna and Alamut. Well, that was fun. 🙂 At the beginning, I thought I’ll be liking Alamut more (due to the opening notes and what they smelled like). Donna started soapy but not the way soap smells but the way soap tastes when it accidentally gets in your mouth. Then after some 30 minutes it turned into a seamless, slightly soapy floral that actually smelled fine.
Alamut started as a nice leathery-floral thing that turned into an aldehydic monster with musk jumping off my skin and attacking me.
I’ll finish today with Sushi Imperiale, by Bois 1920. It started with a blast, a spicy cologne (and for some reason I thought I smelled lavender?!) that turned into a happy, playful thing that is really a rare feeling I get when smelling something. And for the life of me, I just couldn’t find cinammon of all things in it. Very strange – but I’ll give it another go.
Bois Rouge: citrus, spice, cedarwood, patchouli, jasmine, muguet, sandalwood, vetiver, amber, leather, vanilla and tonka bean
Tuscan Leather: saffron, raspberry, thyme, olibanum, jasmine, leather, black suede, amberwood.
Oud Wood: rosewood, cardamom, Chinese pepper, oud, sandalwood, vetiver, tonka bean, vanilla and amber
Fifi Chachnil: citrus, fruits, coriander, powdery rose, amber, oriental notes, tabacco
Party in Manhattan: Bergamot, tangerine, clary sage, carnation, carrot, jasmine, May rose, ylang ylang, iris, vetiver, patchouli, oakmoss, gray amber
Donna: rose, coriander, clove, star anise, blackcurrant, carnation, rosewood, rose, jasmin, iris, ylang ylang, violet leaves, sandalwood, musk and narcissus.
Alamut: osmanthus, aldehydes, rose, jasmine, powder, rosewood, narcissus, tuberose, ylang ylang, labdanum, amber, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, and leather
Sushi Imperiale: citrus, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, Madagascan vanilla
Notes by: http://www.luckyscent.com/ , http://www.theperfumedcourt.com/ , http://www.nstperfume.com/
Picture is mine: Les 2 Alpes, France
Tagged: Alamut, Bois Rouge, Donna, Fifi Chachnil, Lorenzo Villoresi, Oud Wood, Party in Manhattan, Tom Ford Private Blend, Tuscan Leather
All I am - a redhead 
Hi there, Ines!!! So nice to see things I *didn't* like so much end up smelling fun for you!! Now that I think about it– I agree with you about the Fifi having a kind of marzipani-thing, from my memory of it…And tell us more about the musks!! Musk is something we all have to come to terms with, sooner or later!! GREAT photo, BTW…
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Rita, I will definitely giving more thought (and sniffing space) to musks. It's really good Elena did a musk article recently, I already read it twice trying to remember as much information as possible.The problem is, they don't really smell the same. And I realized yesterday that this one note I kept having terrible problems with (I still do) is actually some kind of musk. A very strong, shrill kind that seems to live in some of E. Lauder's perfumes as well.(shudder)
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Yeah– Elena piece was (as always) amazing. Where does she get the time, inspiration, and energy to put out all of the information that she does?As for musks– Once I learned that we Americans put synthetic musks in all of our soaps, I smell it everywhere. I'm so interested in a non-American point of view.
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Sushi Imperiale! Woohoo! It's one of my alltime favorites. I don't think that I smell cinnamon in it either, though. It's so very _happy_. Not a fragile kind of happy, but a soda-bubbles, firework-sparkles, dancing-feet-in-sequined-tap-shoes, you-can't-dampen-me happy.
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Rita, now that you mentioned the American soap thing, I will really give musks more thought. Because, I don't get that type of shrill/clean smell from the soaps here – most of them always smell creamy. Now I have to check the ingredients as well. 🙂
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CF, you're completely right. 🙂 It's really a very loud and exuberant type of happy. I smile just thinking about it. 🙂
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