Hiris is one of my favorite hot weather fragrances. Introduced in 1999, I only heard about it a couple of years ago. It is considered a semi-oriental, suitable for a man or a woman. It is iris with an H for Hermes.
Top Notes: Orange blossom, rose, coriander seed
Heart Notes: White iris, black iris, cedarwood
Base Notes: Vanilla, ambrette seed, almond wood
There’s been a lot of iris hitting the market in later years, but Hiris stands the test of time. It is both sophisticated and modern. The scent of iris comes not from the flower, which as I remember has very little scent, but from the root or rhizome. Some iris is as cold as ice (notably Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens — which I cannot wear.)
Prada’s Infusion d’Iris brought out in 2007 was similar to Hiris, but it lacked any punch. It got tiresome after a while, because it was very light, with not much movement. I found myself overwhelmed (underwhelmed?) by its sameness.
Top Notes: mandarin, orange blossom,
Heart notes: iris
Base notes: galbanum, incense, benzoin, cedar, lentisc and vetiver.
By contrast, Hiris is greener and more earthy. Maybe it’s the vanilla that I like, though I don’t particularly smell it. Maybe it’s the woods in it, in contrast to Prada’s. Whatever — I know I like it better.
For a while I swore off Iris, thinking I had grown tired of it and could no longer wear it, but I find I’m enjoying Hiris again. And my kids think I smell good.
It’s a refreshing fragrance, good for this sticky heat we are having. It brings the temps down, if that is possible. Somehow it reminds me of the time I walked along a park in Innsbruck. The park was filled with tulips and smelled earthy and green, along with the scent coming off the water.
Just what I need for a super hot summer day.
Have you ever worn Hiris? do you love it too?
I know a man could wear this well, but it is not so unisex that it leans sharply masculine. I couldn’t wear it if it did. Do you prefer Prada’s? or not?
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Oh, I like this one! This smells like a night time rendevous! Going to a club… It’s definitely for someone in their 20’s. Young and spunky. I like it!
She says it’s more elegant than skanky, and she didn’t even know the name yet.
Avon had Little Black Dress first, but it wasn’t this version, and it wasn’t with a French name. La Petite Robe Noire, Little Black Dress, AKA Little-Black-Dress-gone-clubbing, is considered a fruity gourmand, right up the alley of the 20-somethings. And it decidedly not noir noir, it is more fuchsia noir.
Notes include Sicilian lemon, licorice, almond, rose, smoky tea, musk and vanilla.
Yesterday I picked up more of the floral. Today I’m picking up more of a somewhat subdued Angel. It is Angel’s youngest sister. Sweet and sassy. LVMH uses the word audacious.
Almost cherry or very cherry, it must be the almond thing going on, but it does not smell like the original Jergen’s. And then there might even be a touch of Lolita Lempicka — it’s got to be the licorice.
I want that bottle. Or, at least I want to see that bottle.
Octavian has a nice write up at his blog, a play on French words, and a great picture of the window on Rue de la Paix.
I keep hearing this lyric in my head:
Someone left the cake out in the rain.
12:40 Today, it is not moving past this first stage very quickly, but then I gave myself a double hit. The top notes are predominant, but make no mistake, it will move. I will update as the day goes on.
3:00 pretty well gone, just smelled lighter
5:00 gone; but still apparent on Book Girl
5:47 I replenished with a drop on each wrist — smells less like Angel when used in small doses
7:06 much more of a fruity floral when worn this way
Update December 2009 I got a great compliment while wearing my sample. I still have not bought this in full size, but considering the compliment, I ought to!
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I must have been sleeping whenever this fragrance was discussed, because I only happened upon mention of it the other day when I was surfing for decants and samples. It seems to be one that is either liked or not — there’s no happy medium.
And it’s important to know that there is nothing remotely like Vol de Nuit in this fragrance except for borrowing the name.
What I’ve noticed over time is that if you can wear Mitsouko or Vol de Nuit — and like them — then you might not like L’Heure Bleu or vice versa. That might be a way you could determine if you would like this or not, short of ordering a small sample.
I like Vol De Nuit a lot, and often layer it up as the notes soften during the day, starting with Chant d’Aromes, passing through Chamade or Mitsouko or both, and ending with Vol de Nuit at night, so I thought I’d like to give this a shot.
LHB is definitely not one of my faves, but I wear it occasionally.
I received my sample in today’s mail and immediately sniffed and put some on my wrist.
The notes are peach, rose, jasmine, amber, iris, woods, vanilla.
And while these notes are common to a lot of Guerlain fragrances, they are put together in a different way in this one. I don’t get any peach at all — it isn’t a bit like Femme by Rochas, for example. And it isn’t a chypre at all.
On me, it starts out aldehydic with lots of powdery overtures. As that softens, it moves into a more animalic phase which has been described as smelling of sweat (which I do not get) or marine (salty, I’m guessing — I do get a bit of salt in it). Underneath it all is iris, almost as sweet as in Iris Ganache, without the chocolate that puts it into the too sweet category for me. It reminds me of the iris in Prada Infusion d’Iris. In the drydown I get amber and woods, but no vanilla. It’s there, but so minute as not to be particularly discernible.
So, there you have it. I will try it in a heavier dose a bit later today to see how that develops and compare it to Guet-Apens/Attrape-Coeur, which I have a bit of. It has also been compared to 31 Rue Cambon by Chanel, which I have never smelled. If you have that one, you might try comparing and let me know.
Vol de Nuit Evasion has been available in airport stores. You can also find it at ThePerfumedCourt.
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Ayala Moriel is a talented parfumer with a wide selection to choose from. If you are lucky enough to live in her area, you can be included in some of the wonderful things she offers locally, that she is able only to tell us about, those of us who live at a distance.
I have been comparing two new scents by Ayala for the past couple of weeks: Vetiver Racinettes and Immortelle L’Amour. Immortelle L’Amour is due to launch in November. You may currently order samples and pre-order for the launch. VR will launch at an undisclosed time.
First, I really love Ayala’s scents and they are beautifully packaged. They are all forms of parfum so they stay close to you vs. a lot of sillage around you and trailing in the room. I love to wear Ayala’s scents as the day progresses. I will start with one or two, then either layer again or choose different scents depending on my mood. When I need a boost, I put a couple of drops on my wrists. They keep my mind energized and engaged. They never fail to please me.
One day I would like to meet her in person. To have a personal consultation and a bespoke fragrance would be heavenly!
I recommend getting a sample package from her. That way you can sample several of her scents. They are bound to please if you choose notes you know you love — or perhaps are intrigued by and would simply like to try for the sake of trying.
Immortelle L’amour:
The maple-like nuances of immortelle absolute are used here along with sweet orange, cinnamon, wheat and three different infusions of vanilla, creating a perfume that truly captures the aroma of cinnamon-pancakes and Tire d’Erable (“taffee on the snowâ€), an inseparable part of the Quebec heritage in the Maple Harvest Festivals. You’ll find it hard to resist licking this perfume, but it will prove to be a true friend for a love-injured heart.
Famlies: Gourmand
Top Notes: Sweet Orange, Cinnamon
Heart Notes: Rooibos Tea, Broom
Base Notes: Immortelle, Vanilla, Wheat
The immortelle note is juxtaposed with a rich vanilla accord, using a few different varieties of vanilla: a dark absolute from Madagascar, a vanilla CO2 from Bourbon islands, and a tincture of vanilla which I made from plump vanilla pods (seeds and all) from Ghana. Another home-made tincture is used – that of red tea (rooibos), as this material is rarely available in the market as an absolute. Another interesting edible note that I’ve used is wheat absolute. It has a very subtle, iodine-like note, and along with cinnamon CO2 Immortelle l’Amour fills the air with an authentic warm cinnamon-waffles with maple smell… As it dries down, it feels as though an invisible maple taffee is spread upon my skin, sans the stickiness…
Reading the notes of Immortelle does not give you a true estimate of the fragrance, though all the notes can be distinguished. It is not as sweet as it sounds. Yes, I smell maple, real honest to goodness maple syrup, the only kind worth eating. Yes, I can smell the maple syrup that we would drip on snow, then eat as candy. I don’t get much vanilla from it. The orange and cinnamon hint around the edges. Interestingly on me, the maple (at first) is reminiscent of patchouli. (I also get this from VR.) It is sophisticated enough to wear on all occasions. While gourmand, it is not immediately recognizable as foody, nor is it terribly sweet. It is a perfect parfum for this time of year.
Each time I have sampled, I have applied one good sized drop, each one on the same wrist. When I first apply these new ones, they are similar in their beginnings, but VR is much less sweet and more herbal. As they continue to drydown, VR actually becomes sweeter on me than Immortelle. Within five minutes Immortelle has segued into its next stage and VR is moving a bit forward too.
Vetiver Racinettes [Ayala tells me it reminded her of the sweet spiciness of rootbeer, which racinette means in French]:
Top notes: Black Pepper, Fresh Ginger, Cardamom, Kaffir Lime Leaf
Heart notes: Haitian Vetiver , Nutmeg Asbolute, Coffee, Spikenard
Base notes: Ruh Khus, Indonesian Vetiver, Vetiver Bourbon, Attar Mitti, Tarragon Absolute, Cepes
Perhaps it is the tarragon that makes it sweet. I love to cook with tarragon. It is so well blended here that I didn’t recognize it until I saw it in the notes.
Either one would be equally suitable for a man.
Earlier in my blog I did a series on the samples I ordered from her. If you wear her fragrances, tell us which are your personal favorites. And if you have not ordered from her yet, give yourself a treat.
Ayala is located in Vancouver. I only wish I had known that when I was in Vancouver a year ago. Her fragrances remind me of the city, I’m not quite sure why, unless it is the cosmopolitan nature of it.
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It’s no secret that I like vetiver, so I was very happy to receive a bottle of Vetyver Vanille from Le Jardin Retrouvé. This is a scent for which they have no samples.
Vetiver is frequently used as a base note in men’s and women’s fragrances
It is used more dominantly in men’s fragrances, and then, to me, it is more pungent than what is usually found in women’s fragrances.
Vetyver Vanille
Vetiver is dominant in this fragrance, but bourbon vanilla is added to it.
Comparing the notes to Eau de Vetyver
Vetyver Vanille Notes:
Top Notes bergamot, lemon
Mid Notes: warm, woody with a touch of tobacco
Base Notes: spicy and peppery, vetyver + bourbon vanilla
Eau de Vetyver Notes: bergamot, lemon, tobacco, vetiver
Comparing the two fragrances
For the past three days I have worn one fragrance on one wrist; the other on the other. In many ways they are similar, as you would expect. There are times when I catch a faint memory of vanilla in Vetyver Vanille, but this is not Vanille Vetyver. The vetiver is dominant, not the vanilla, and the vanilla is not sweet, it is more dry. So this is not a girlie vetiver, even though there is vanilla in it.
Of the two fragrances, after several hours there is more scent left in the Vetyver Vanille than in Eau de Vetyver. It is at this point that the vanilla is more noticeable, and also in the immediate beginning. My daughter can smell the vanilla in it more than I can.
Is this a scent that both sexes can wear?
Absolutely, it is suitable for a man or a woman, and could easily be a shared scent between lovers.
What is it like?
It is smooth from the beginning with no alcohol that needs to burn off to get to the fragrance underneath.
At it’s end point, it remains rich with a hint of vanilla, which would likely be more if I had applied more in the beginning. I dabbed both scents. I did not spritz. As such, it stays close to my skin, like a perfume.
Would it work to layer into other fragrances to add vetiver?
Yes, I think this would work beautifully. I prefer it to Guerlain’s Vetiver. You might have to be careful of the vanilla in it, when layering, if that would not work with the fragrance you were layering it with.
What I like about it:
I like that the vetiver is not harsh or sharp, but rich and smooth. I prefer it over Guerlain’s.
My take:
I give this fragrance a 3 out of 4. It is lovely. It is a tad sweeter than Eau de Vetyver. It’s a toss up for me which I prefer.
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Rose The One
I was able to try Rose The One in person tonight, and I have to say it is a nice addition to the original The One.
What are the notes?
Rose The One
notes: blackcurrant, pink grapefruit, mandarin, lily of the valley, rose, litchi, peony, Madonna lily, ambrette seed, sandalwood, musk and vanilla.
The One
top: bergamot, mandarin, lychee and peach,
mid: Madonna lily, muguet and jasmine,
base: of plum, vetiver, vanilla, amber and musk.
How do they compare?
The main difference for me is the addition of pink grapefruit in Rose The One. That comes across strongly in the beginning, perhaps even stronger than the rose. But citrus notes burn off fast from the top notes, leaving a gentler, softer version of The One.
Both fragrances begin with almost a fizz, but the fizz is stronger in Rose The One, as you would expect, because of the tart aspect of the grapefruit.
Does it resemble the original The One?
Unlike some flankers that have no resemblance to the original fragrance except for the name, Rose The One stays true to the original concept, while making it more wearable with the addition of the rose and pink grapefruit and softening it.
My Take:
I found over time that The One was a fragrance so distinctive that I tired of it. I couldn’t layer up over it to get another fragrance later in the day, which I like to do.
I like citrus in a fragrance. And I have trouble wearing roses. But Rose The One is one I can wear. I’m really happy that it has a lighter feel to it than The One. I prefer it.
Have you tried it?
Do you wear either of them? Which do you prefer?
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Revisiting Divine fragrances because a POL’ers generous sharing of samples with me reminded me of 3 of them.
Divine by Divine is the favorite Divine fragrance of a lot of people. It was the last of the women’s fragrances I tried.
It bears trying more than once.
What did I think?
My first thought was that this was not for me. But wearing it at the moment I first wrote this review, I was changing my mind.
The notes
D I V I N E opens with a fruity note peach lightly spiced with coriander passing through a cloud of full and tender flowers gardenia, tubereuse des Indes, May rose finally to reveal a warm and sensual chord of oak moss, musk, vanilla and spice.
The spice combos
There are some interesting spice combinations in it.
What is the Peach like?
But this does not smell like the spiced peaches my mother used to serve at holidays. The peach is very fleeting. It is not like Femme.
What about the flowers?
The white flowers are the heart of it, but the tuberose is toned down.
Is it gourmand?
The vanilla is barely there. It is not gourmand, unless there is a food that would correspond to it in a rustic kitchen with bouquets of flowers.
My take
Quite yummy, actually. I don’t wear Femme well, but I do love peach in a fragrance. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz has several peaches, or did, as I have samples of them. The Body Shop also.
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Patchouli Antique by Les Néréides $65 for 100 ml or $3 for .7 ml at Lucky Scent which carries 7 Les Nereides fragrances, including body lotion for this scent.
Notes: Indonesian Patchouli, Vanilla, Musk
This is a semi-dry Patchouli. By that, I mean it isn’t as dry as some, and it seems to soften into a sweeter patchouli as it dries down, which is likely the vanilla. But it is strong and intense at the first blast.
In general I like the Les Néréides fragrances that I have tried. They settle down nicely, and this is no exception. But I prefer a Patchouli that is wearable on me from the beginning, and as you know if you’ve been reading my blog, I prefer sweet Patchouli over dry.
While there is vanilla in this, it doesn’t make its appearance until about a half hour into the wearing. It is at that point that I begin to enjoy it.
Suitable for a man or a women, do you wear it?
Karin
www.savvythinker.com
don’t take whole posts; be sure to give credit.
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I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to sample and review Mon Précieux Nectar. It’s no secret that Guerlain is probably my favorite perfume house, though I have others represented in what I wear, as you know if you’ve been reading my blog.
Mon Précieux Nectar, is for the true perfumista, the true collector. It retails for (are you ready!) $9,000 for a 1 liter extrait in an Imperial Fountain, a gorgeous hand-made crystal fountain. This picture hardly does it justice.
It is paired with a silver-plated refillable atomizer, all offered in a black leather presentation box.
For the woman who relishes being unique and strives to set the trends instead of following them, Guerlain has created an extremely limited fragrance offering appropriately titled Mon Précieux Nectar. Only sixty-two women in the world will be privileged to wear this scent, all but ensuring the wearers will never cross paths.
Yes, I truly am unique, and I do tend to set trends rather than follow them…ahem…this is true!
Randa Hammami is the nose who worked with Sylvaine Delacourte on this one. Hammami also collaborated with Delacourt for Guerlain’s Cruel Gardénia and L’Instant Magic, as well as the two limited edition fragrant oils inspired by Delacourte’s trip to the Middle-East.
Here’s a little info: Mon Précieux Nectar is a floral gourmand with notes:
Top: petitgrain and bitter almond,
Heart: jasmine and orange blossom
Base: sensual woods, incense, vanilla and white musk.
My take:
I find myself saying to myself, “What is it that smells so wonderful?” And then I realize it is me — this fragrance that I am wearing. It is just enough different than anything I own that it intrigues and surprises me in equal measure. It reminds me of L’Instant Magic, which should come as no surprise, since it revisits the almond-musk of that fragrance. But it is richer and fuller, not powdery. It is altogether more luxurious, as well it should be. It is certainly a way to cushion oneself from the world’s negative vibes.
I applied it with an atomizer, so there is some sillage. Even so, it lays close to my skin.
I think it smells heavenly. My 23 yo daughter just said it smells delectable. Did I mention that I love it? If you would like to give me this for my upcoming birthday, I would be very appreciative.
Why did I hesitate to try this one, outside of price?
I expected I would be unable to wear it well, because of the white floral in it, but I underestimated the power of almond, which I love. The almond is paired with orange blossom, reminiscent of Middle-Eastern pastries, but the over-all effect is not the sweet gourmand of Iris Ganache which I found unwearable for me. And it isn’t the sharp floral of Jardin de Bagatelle or Champs Elysees.
No, this is a completely lush rendition of floral with just enough sweetness, incense, and Guerlinade accord to balance the various elements, bringing it into a totally modern fragrance with classic inspiration. I’m sure these aspects are what make one think of vintage L’Heure Bleue which is reported to be Ms. Delacourte’s favorite fragrance, though almond notes are reported to be her favorite note. Perhaps MPN is her favorite fragrance now!
How and when should you wear it?
This is a fragrance, that if you are lucky enough to own it, you should drench yourself in day or night. I don’t think you could overdo it.
Then, if someone admires it on you, as they assuredly will, tell them with a twinkle in your eye what it is. If you are feeling especially open that day, you might offer them a spritz — after all, you have plenty more where that came from.
OTOH, if you are not feeling friendly, mention the price, with a dismissive, airy wave of your hand. (Eat your heart out…that will teach them not to be nice to you.)
But by all means enjoy it! After all, you are worth it!
I recommend calling or emailing Claire at the Guerlain boutique at the Palazzo in Las Vegas for all your Guerlain needs, including Mon Précieux Nectar. Be sure to say you heard it from me. (702) 732-7008 or GuerlainPalazzo.STORE@lvmhuspc.com
Did I mention that I love it? and I have a birthday coming up?
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Back to Black: Aphrodisiac, Kilian’s 9th fragrance and the second in his Arabian Nights series. It will debut in September. I was lucky enough (pun intended since I was in Las Vegas) to try this fragrance during my recent trips to Las Vegas.
I can’t wait until I can get a bottle of my own. September 1st is just around the corner.
Edit: October, the travel sets have come in, and that’s the format I bought it in. Sergio expects travel refills to be in by December.
The fragrance notes are:
bergamot, nutmeg, saffron, cardamom, coriander, raspberry, blue chamomile, honey, olibanum, cedar, oak, tobacco accord, patchouli, vanilla, almond and labdanum.
I have a fuller list, by category, of the notes, but I need to find where it disappeared after I got home. When I put my hands on it, or call Sergio again, I will update this post — that will teach me not to review a perfume right away!
Every time I use my sample, it is delicious. I put it on my wrists last night (dabbed, not spritzed, as my sample is not a spray.) It smells just as good 10-12 hours later.
Amy Winehouse’s album Back to Black, might be an inspiration. I truly hope she gets her act together. She is not a role model for me, but I love her voice. OTOH, Back to Black is a clever name for another black masterpiece. And the name aphrodisiac gives us a sense of another layer in the story of Love, Kilian style.
What message does it send? Aphrodisiac alludes to the sensual nature of this fragrance, and of the hope that it represents and enhances our own sense of sensuality, either as we perceive ourselves or as others perceive us. This is a classical, lush, and rich sensuality; it is not skanky, no, no, no. We won’t go to rehab over this scent.
Perhaps the message it sends is: I feel rich, not I feel pretty.
I am elegant and lovely/handsome (rich, like fine wine, not money). I know who I am, and I want you to know it too. I’m not in your face, but you can’t miss me. I am everything I ever hoped I would be and more. Can you feel it too? I am confident, but not ridiculous. What you see is what you get, but still there is mystery to unfold and develop.
Cary Grant…
Tobacco Notes
I happen to like tobacco notes, for they remind me of the smell of my uncle’s pipe, and thus conjure up a sense of familial love and older times, when loved ones were still on the scene, and we had family get-togethers for birthdays and holidays.
How does it compare to Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille?
This tobacco is a gentler version of Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanillle, which is just what it says: tobacco and vanilla.
Considered a smooth oriental, and it certainly is smooth, Tobacco Vanille’s notes are:
top:tobacco leaf and aromatic spice notes.
heart:tonka bean, tobacco flower, vanilla and cocoa
base: a dry fruit accord, enriched with sweet wood sap.
B2B is less sweet and more complex. There are times when I’m not as enamored with Tobacco Vanille as I am at other times, but so far, Back to Black is satisfying every time I wear it.
Who can wear B2B?
B2B is suitable for either men or women. I don’t see it as unisex, because I generally cannot wear unisex, whereas I can wear some men’s fragrances. Unisex is generally neither here nor there, evidently, for me or else it is too masculine.
Have you had a chance to try it yet?
If you get a chance, pun intended again, do yourself a favor and at least sample this fragrance. Let me know what you think. I think you’ll love it.
Sergio told me I was very lucky to be there the day they received only one bottle, and that I would be the first anywhere to try it outside of the SAs. I doubt I was the first, but I might have been one of the first — and especially in this store. Contact Sergio, the expert on Kilian at SAKs in Las Vegas, Sergio_Gonzalez2@S5A.com or 702-967-1266, for all your Kilian needs. Be sure to tell him that you heard about him from me.
You can see an overview of Kilian fragrances here.
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Lavender is a note that is real iffy on me. Sometimes I like it; sometimes not. Sometimes it feels feminine; other times it is just too masculine.
How about you? Do you like and wear lavender?
Lavender supposedly has soothing properties and promotes restfulness and good sleep. I suppose that is true if you like lavender. But for me, it either is or it isn’t. There are times when lavender does seem like a good addition for bedtime to aid in sleep, but if the lavender has a negative value to me, then it is more wake-inducing than sleep-inducing.
There are a number of fragrances built around lavender, and lavender is a note in a lot of men’s fragrances. I don’t even particularly like it in men’s fragrances, if it is a lavender note I don’t like. Perhaps it is a function of what synthetics are used to mimic lavender or whether it is natural lavender or not, if that even exists. Perhaps real lavender is too fleeting or subject to change. Or it may entirely be a function of where the lavender originates. There are huge fields planted in various places, used in the perfume industry.
One of the blogs I enjoy is French Word a Day. She has shown pictures a couple of times of an aunt making a woven sachet out of lavender. Perhaps she will leave a message here and give me a direct link to it. That’s the kind of hand craft that is interesting to learn to do. It looks lovely when finished.
Here are some lavender fragrances that I do like. I’ll add others as time goes on or as I have time.
Kilian A Taste of Heaven absinthe verte
Inspired by Absinthe, bittersweet nectar of poets.
This is a men’s fragrance, but easily worn by a woman. From The Artificial Paradises for men, the lavender in A Taste of Heaven absinthe verte is lush and sweet; it isn’t pungent or artificial. When it softens over hours, the lavender is barely visible under the whole of it. It doesn’t become the whole of it.
My first impression is Vanilla and Lavender, but much, much smoother and richer than BBW. No comparison. At it’s final stages, there is a spiciness to it.
I haven’t bought this, but it is a possibility if I find I can wear this lavender as well as I’m wearing it today.
Contact Sergio at SAKs in Las Vegas. He’s the Kilian expert there and will take good care of you. (702) 733-8300. Sergio told me where the lavender is from that makes it so special, but I regret to say I have forgotten what he said. I will have to re-ask him and then add it to this post at a later time. If you talk to him and find out, leave a comment!
I just got off the phone with him. Here’s what his info says:
The best lavender is from the north of France, and that is where Kilian gets his.
Added late at night: after respritzing the one time, I got busy and didn’t layer up to something else or respritz. Now, hours and hours later, I smell no lavender, just an intriquing sort of incensy sweetness. Have you tried this one?
You can see an overview of all Kilian fragrances here.
Tova by Tova
If you’ve ever watched Tova on TV, you know how persuasive she can be. She is a lovely woman, married to Ernest Borgnine. This is her first of several fragrances. To hear her tell it, people follow her and whoever else is wearing it, whenever and wherever they are wearing it, to find out what it is.
By day, the alluring Tova Signature scent envelops you in an unforgettable blend of bergamot, jasmine, and lavender.
By evening, Tova Nights(R) fragrance enchants with its aromatic combination of lilies, lilacs, subtle spice, and a hint of musk.
I like it, but it isn’t me. I’m sure if I loved, loved, loved it, and wore it sufficiently, people would stop me too. It is an intriguing scent, different than anything else on the market.
Lavender Vanilla Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy SLEEP
Just as it says, lavender vanilla. At one time they had it in many formulas: lotion, pillow spray, oil, shower gel. I’m not sure what is available now, or if you can only find it during their big sales.
This is sweet and comforting, whereas Kilian’s is lush and sexy.
I don’t find it makes any difference in my sleep one way or the other. It is disconcerting to smell it on my pillow. I’d rather smell my own fragrance.
Arbonne Unwind Unwind Rejuvenating Body Mist
I have no idea if there is lavender in this. But I’m reviewing it with lavender because of its relaxation properties. I took it on my trip in case the world got to be too much with me, LOL! I did spritz it a bit in the car. I threatened to spritz my kids if they got too out of hand, but I never had to do it. It comes in a mist, a massaging oil, a shower gel, a lotion…
Notes: Chamomile and ylang ylang
The calming, botanically-based all over mist designed to hydrate the skin while imparting aromatherapeutic benefits of the Unwind essential oil blend. Recommended for all skin types. 4 fl. oz./118 mL ( 4 fl. oz./118 mL ) Price: $16.00
If BBW Lavender Vanilla is a sledge hammer, Unwind is a whisper. There is hardly any scent to it at all.
Does it work? Dunno. But I got there and back all right — and I wondered before we started. 8 days driving/riding with a full car is a lot! What do you think, did it help?
What’s your favorite scent with lavender? Do you like and wear lavender or not?
Karin
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In many ways Guerlain Moscow reminds me of 68, so I thought today I’d compare the two to see if my scent memory was on the beam or not. There is that certain Guerlain flavor to both of them which adds a particular sameness — I wasn’t wrong about that.
I hesitate to call it Guerlinade. I suppose I’d call it Fruit and Guerlinade because both of these have some fruit in them. At the same time this is not your usual teeny bopper fruit, this is grown up fruit. Both of these can easily be worn by a man or a woman (68 is marketed towards a man, but it is good on me.)
I put 68 on my left arm, and Moscow on my right arm at the same time. I was careful not to mix the two (very often I will apply to one arm, then transfer to the other by blotting my arms together.)
Guerlain 68
68 was sweeter from the get-go and the stronger of the two. As far down as vanilla is in the list of notes, you wouldn’t think it would be so dominant.
Notes for 68, if you can believe it:
Notes for Guerlain Cologne du 68: bergamot, green mandarin, lemon, clementine, orange peel, blood orange, sweet lime, grapefruit, basil, fennel, star anise, lavender, bay leaf, cypress, elemi, thyme, myrthe, bigarade, mandarin, petit grain, lemon petit grain, pear, violet greens, lierre, gentiane, seve, blackcurrant, freesia, lily of the valley, hazel leaf, cyclamen, cardamom, coriander, black pepper, pink berry, nutmeg, ginger, jasmine, frangipane, magnolia blossom, orange blossom, peony, rose, carnation, ylang-ylang, lychee, fig, blackberry, immortelle, lentisque (mastic), opoponax, amber, benzoin, vanilla, cistus, heliotrope, iris, tonka bean, sage, musk, patchouli, agarwood, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, vegetable musk, praline, myrrhe and lichen.
Or a shorter version, again if it can be believed:
green tangerine, lemon petit-grain, limette, star anise, coriandre, cardamom, pepper, immortelle, opoponax, and cedar.
Guerlain Moscow
Moscow was spicier — maybe it’s the absinthe and the red currants. You definitely get red currants in the beginning — and I like that note. (Kilian has an absinthe too — perhaps I’ll compare it to Moscow tomorrow, though as I remember it, the Kilian has lavender in it, so it is quite different.)
Notes: Musk, fruit, wood…vanilla, bergamot, red currants, absinthe, lemon, plum
It is now several hours later. Neither is strongly discernible to my nose, but putting my arm up to my nose, both smell pretty nearly alike. Perhaps having both is not a necessity, but they are quite different in the beginning.
Here are the verdicts from my scent testers (2 teens, 1 20 something, and a preteen): Could they smell it when I walked past them two hours later?
Yes, they could smell it; it was light, not too strong. Then I let them smell each arm so they could tell me which one was still evident. I could smell 68 more. 20 something: She could smell the Moscow and likes it better. Pre-teen: She could smell the 68, but likes the Moscow better. Teen (10th grade): She could smell the Moscow. It’s not too strong. Teen (8th grade): She could smell both. She could smell it when I walked away, not when I walked toward her. She liked them.
Isn’t that funny!
Re-spritzed: (I’ve never respritzed before today.) Me: 68 smells reminiscent of Shalimar now, the original vintage. Between the two, I can’t smell Moscow, though putting arm to nose, Moscow is spicier. 20 something: Still likes Moscow. Pre-teen: Oh, that’s fruity (the blend of the two.) I like it! 10th grader: I smell vanilla now. (Yes, there’s vanilla in both.) 8th grader: I like it!
So there you have it! I still think it’s funny.
Hey, Claire (Kyler and Jorganne), what do you think? from Guerlain at the Palazzo in LV.
Do they remind you of each other? Which lasts longer? Which do you prefer (not fair, I know, when you sell it!)
Don’t forget that both of these are available at Guerlain at the Palazzo in Las Vegas. Stop in if you are there — or phone (702) 732-7008 or email GuerlainPalazzo.STORE@lvmhuspc.com. Be sure to tell them you heard it from me. They will treat you right and take good care of you. I always have fun there.
Do you have either of these? Do you have both?
Do you have a preference one over the other?
My personal preference: I wish the bottles were smaller and cost less.
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Love…don’t be shy…was the fragrance I thought I preferred when I smelled it on each of my two previous trips to Vegas (the only access I have to Kilian fragrances.) It didn’t surprise me that I loved it again.
I generally give fragrance several tries before I commit, because I find that sometimes they are scrubbers on me, when I had thought they were not.
Love…don’t be shy is another play on words. If you wish to find or experience love, you have to put yourself out there. Don’t be shy. Risk a little. (Maybe that would be a good name for one of his fragrances.) Or, express your love, don’t hold back. To have love, you must give love.
Here’s the description from the insert booklet:
L’Oeuvre Noire [in English, Black Masterpiece], a collection of 10 fragrances composed with the most expensive and rarest essential oils. A deca aroma that revolves around three themes: Love and its prohibitions. The artificial paradises. The temptations.
And here’s a quote from that same insert:
Perfume should be the essential in the excessive. Kilian Hennessy
I think I’d love to sit down and chat with him. …essential in the excessive — isn’t that an interesting way to describe one of the pleasures of life!
And here’s another quote I like of his:
Perfume is a messenger that opens a thousand doors in the memory. Kilian Hennessy
I think we can both create and recreate memories with perfume. All I have to do is smell a certain fragrance to feel once again that someone I knew is near, though she is no longer living. She created an aura with fragrance. I prefer my aura to be lighter, but nonetheless there. She wore hers too heavily. I don’t think that is possible with these. They have a cap on how strong they are.
Created by perfumer Calice Becker, here are the notes:
Top notes: Marshmallow, Neroli
Heart notes: Sambac Jasmine with Rose and Iris
Base notes: vanilla and musk.
This is not a dreckly sweet marshmallow concoction, but rather mature and intoxicating. Again, a bit boozy, definitely intoxicating. The vanilla is not sweet. It’s not like Shalimar; no, this is darker.
I was off-put by Iris after Guerlain’s Iris Ganache. I might have steered away from this one after that one. But this is what I hoped IG would be, even though descriptions didn’t necessarily match my idea.
Again, on me, this is a deeply resinous fragrance. It is no Mariah Carey, and it certainly is not Pink Sugar. It’s a night time fragrance suitable for day time. It insinuates rather than shouting. It isn’t shy, but it doesn’t hit you over the head — those are fragrance types I prefer not to wear. I believe it would layer well with any other Kilian fragrance. It is very smooth, but it also ruffles. This is a fragrance for a woman who knows her mind.
Do you wear it? Have you tried it?
You can see an overview of all his fragrances here.
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Again, *Sergio Gonzalez is the expert on the line at SAKs in Las Vegas, and he will be happy to help you. Phone 702-967-1266. Be sure to tell him you heard it from me. He will take good care of you!
Kilian says:
A fragrance inspired by the warm, enfolding balsamic notes of Oud, a legendary wood said to be « worth more than its weight in gold ». Perfumer : Sidonie Lancesseur
I’ve heard it said that it gets stronger on some, but on me it just stays softly resinous. I love the scent as it softens, and I love the bit that is on my clothes. I spray my wrist and arm, then transfer to the other arm and wrist. And I spritz my neck.
The notes are:
Fresh notes: Bergamot calabria oil, orange blossom oil,
Floral notes: violet accord, centifolia rose absolute,
Woody notes: agarwood (here is the oud again), Indian papyrus oil, gaiacwood oil, Haiti vetiver oil, sandalwood,
Animalic notes: styrax absolute, castoreum absolute, vanilla absolute, musk.
This is not a sweet vanilla; it is more of a dry vetiver. It is so precisely blended that I cannot really separate the notes. Occasionally I get a glimpse of violets in the woods. Mostly it is a very wearable animalic fragrance. It is soft enough to be worn day or night by both men or women.
Sergio considers it the most complex of Kilian’s fragrances. I don’t know about that, but it is quite, quite lovely. My over all impression includes a leathery dry down, though leather is not listed as one of the notes.
This is a fragrance that has a double meaning in the name: likely if someone is being tempted, there are cruel intentions in that temptation.
But I don’t find this fragrance cruel or cutting. It gets under your skin and becomes an ambiance. The sweetness that is there is not sugary, but resinous. It’s even a little bit boozy, as I find his other fragrances. I find this particularly interesting, as Kilian is heir to the Hennessey cognac family.
Have you tried it? Do you love it? I bought this in the travel set.
It may be that I end up liking it as well as or more than Love, don’t be shy.
You can see an overview of all his fragrances here.
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Liaisons Dangereuses typical me is from The Temptations line of Kilian fragrances. I had the good fortune of sniffing the entire Killian line, including Pure Oud, at SAKs in Las Vegas. Sergio Gonzalez is the expert on the line, and he will be happy to help you. Phone 702-967-1266. Be sure to tell him you heard it from me.
I haven’t quite figured out how the typical me fits in with Liaisons Dangereuses.
I was asked if I had ever been in the store when Kilian was there. Unfortunately no, but I would have loved to have met him.
Here’s what Kilian says is the inspiration for this fragrance:
A fragrance inspired by Damascus Plum, a delicate fruit with a smooth note whose scent evokes an oriental lovers’ nest.
According to Sergio, if I understood him correctly, this is the number one Kilian seller in the world. It is a delicious fruity chypre.
What I smell most as it starts out is peach, followed closely by rose and plum with the geranium. I can’t say that I smell the other notes particularly, but I think they keep the fragrance complex and interesting, not fruity.
Some say it is plum over oakmoss; others that it is geranium over cinnamon; or that it has a minty fruit accord…I have a feeling it becomes on you whatever is your best scent. That’s refreshing, isn’t it!
In a way, it reminds me of a modern Femme, with the peach note dominant. But whereas Femme can be decadent in an old-fashioned way, this is modern decadence — or temptation, as you will.
Does this remind me of some of the paintings depicting concubines in luxury, with fresh peaches on offer? Perhaps. Perhaps it is an assignation in a peach grove.
This is not the Kilian that I bought, but it might be the next one. I will wear it all day and see if it calls to me as it is this morning.
Suitable for men or women, the gorgeous black bottle is presented beautifully: a black lacquer box with a key lock and tassle. $225.
The bottle is refillable either in the store or by purchasing a double size refill that you can use at home.
There is also a travel set with four 1/4 oz vials. That spray bottle is gorgeous too, but looks more feminine to me. I had a hard time deciding. You could easily refill these from your larger bottle — or even put another fragrance in if you so desired.
Kilian feels that your perfume is your shield throughout the day — what nice imagery! — thus his bottles have an ornate shield on them.
I don’t know about you, but I can use a shield!
Have you tried this?
Is this the one you bought?
I will add more reviews on other days. Here’s an overview of all his fragrances.
Review Kilian Cruel Intentions Tempt Me Cruel Intentions is a fragrance I've found surprisingly to my taste. Well, maybe not surprising, but it wasn't my first choice. I find I love it. And perhaps it should have been my first choice!...
The fragrance of film I look forward to seeing the films! Karin The fragrance of film Young (and not so young) auteurs are being invited to create a three minute short inspired by perfume. The comp is part of...
Review: The Grand Inca Priestesses The Grand Inca Priestesses by Romeo D'Ameor is available for $135 for 100 ml or $3 for .7 ml at Lucky Scent. Notes: mandarin orange, grapefruit, orange, red apple, mango, orchid, sea water, lily of...
Review: Lavender and more lavender Lavender is a note that is real iffy on me. Sometimes I like it; sometimes not. Sometimes it feels feminine; other times it is just too masculine. How about you? Do you like and wear...
Review: Kilian Back to Black: Aphrodisiac Back to Black: Aphrodisiac, Kilian's 9th fragrance and the second in his Arabian Nights series. It will debut in September. I was lucky enough (pun intended since I was in Las Vegas) to try this...
Dolce & Gabbana Perfume Dolce & Gabbana perfume brands are consistently high quality and popular. It's no wonder, coming from this company. Dolce & Gabbana is a luxury Italian...
Fragrance Scent Glossary Eau de Dolce Vita - This fine fragrance was released by the Christian Dior fragrance house in the year 1998. The perfume scents and fragrance...
Popular Female Fragrance Diamonds & Emeralds - This perfume was introduced by Elizabeth Taylor in the year 1993. This is a fine fragrance that contains notes of green...
Fragrance Notes and Scents Femme de Rochas - This fine fragrance was released by the Rochas fragrance house in the year 1944. The perfume scents and fragrance notes in...
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