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.

A little incensy; a little boozy; a lot sexy.

Notes:
Fresh Note: Bergamot Calabria Oil
Floral Notes: Geranium Bourbon Oil, Orange Flower absolute, rose Turkish absolute, green absinthe oil, lavender bareme oil, lavandin abrialis oil, lavandin green absolute oil, lavandin green concrete
Amber Notes: Patchouli Indonesian oil, oakmoss extract, costus oil @ 1%, ambrarome absolute, vanilla beans absolute, tonka beans hyper essence.

Perfumer : Calice Becker

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

Originally posted 2009-07-23 12:25:25.

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I promised yesterday that I would compare these two.

I came across a site where you can compare fragrances. If you like one, what else might you like (or vice versa.) You can see it here.

When I went there, while waiting for my sample of VdNE to arrive, I was surprised to find they listed VdNE like this:

VOL DE NUIT EVASION 2007 (ATTRAPE-COEUR)

I had a bit of AC, so I wondered if I had simply bought the same thing with a new name. But checking further, the answer was no, these are two different fragrances.

However, when I wear them, comparing them, as I did yesterday afternoon and again today, there isn't enough difference in the two of them on me to warrant having both, unless I wanted one for daytime and one for evening.

The notes for VdNE are [Fragrance Family - oriental woody] : peach, rose, jasmine, amber, iris, woods, vanilla.

The notes for AC/GA are [Fragrance Family - Floral, Amber, Musk]:
Top: a burst of spell binding green notes
Heart: generous, floral/fruity notes (rose, jasmine, peach and tuberose)
Base: leather, powdery and dry wood notes (Amber, Sandalwood, Vanilla and Musk)

or: green, fruity, rose, jasmine, peach, tuberose, amber, sandalwood, vanilla, musk, leather.

It's only fair to say that those who love AC/GA do not, for the most part, like VdNE. I am testing vials; I am not spraying, so there is very little sillage and I have to smell up close to smell either one.

I asked all 3 of my girls to smell both fragrances on me several times. Without exception, if they smelled AC/GA (or VdNE) first, they could not smell the other one. (I had no problem.)

AC/GA is much richer and deeper. College Girl said it smelled more musky. I don't notice that at all particularly. I notice the leather and amber in it, especially the amber. The leather is completely wearable. It is not musty. It certainly smells very good. VdNE is lighter and more powdery, though both have some powder essence to them.

I asked CG again just now which she preferred on me. I have not reapplied since this morning.

She smelled VdNE first, then AC/GA. She said she preferred VdNE, "the deeper one." I said, "No, the other is deeper." She said, "Then VdNE has lasted longer." I think it is again, because she smelled the one first. To me, AC/GA is the deeper, fuller, more exotic one, and has lasted longer. But I like them both. Earlier in the day, my younger girls picked VdNE because it was "lighter."

There you have it. It appears to be a toss up, on me. I would think a man would prefer to wear AC/GA. But hey, give both a try! As I said, I like them both, and I would love to drench myself in spray to get a feeling for when they have heavier sillage.

AC costs EUR 130 for 125 ml. VdNE (edt) is EUR 46 for 50 ml.

Where to buy it?
Call (702-732-7008) or email Claire (GuerlainPalazzo.STORE@lvmhuspc.com) at the Guerlain boutique in Las Vegas. And if he's not there, the others will treat you right too. Even better, stop in when you are in Las Vegas. You'll see I'm right.

Tell them I sent you!

Karin

Addendum: the plot thickens! Evidently, according to French Guerlain sources, VdNE is the edt version of AC/GA edp version. Why on earth would they not keep the same name, AC/GA! No wonder they smell so similar, but one is lighter.

Originally posted 2008-06-21 15:59:29.

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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.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-07-22 14:04:17.

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Just Cavalli Her by Roberto Cavalli was introduced in 2004 for Women. It is considered an oriental floral.

When I wear it, I don't get too much from it except for sweet vanilla -- and the vanilla lasts through the entire fragrance. Getting stronger, if that is possible, which of course it is, because it is one of the base notes, which means it shows up at or through the end.

Top: Sicilian Bergamot, Ceylon Cinnamon, Bamboo Leaves,
Heart: Wild Lily Of The Valley, Apricot Tree Flower, Sambac Jasmine,
Base:Golden Amber, Madagascar Vanilla, Lebanese White Cedarwood, Powdery Musk

It is one of the nicer vanillas out there, but I have to be in the mood for it because it is vanilla.

This is not the sultry vanilla of Shalimar, and it isn't a particularly gourmand vanilla, like white cake.

On the whole, it is sweet. I prefer it not so close to my face. I should have spritzed my leg, not my arm.

As soon as I could, I switched to another fragrance -- to Light Blue -- to get away from the sweetness. I needed a little tart to go with it.

Is this a fragrance that you wear?
When do you wear it? I think it would have served me better on a fall night, not a summer morning. I was engulfed in a vanilla dream. I don't think I'm quite that sweet!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-06-17 07:27:14.

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Moving on to Serge Lutens from L'artisan:

Ahhhh... Oh my. This is the first time I've seen so many Lutens fragrances in one place since I was in Paris. On that trip I was overwhelmed by the choices, didn't really know the offerings, and felt confused enough not to make a choice. Then a generous POL'er (you know who you are) sent me from Europe a wonderful selection of sample vials so that I could really try them at my leisure. I went on to order several decants and a couple of partial bottles.

This week I sampled Rousse, Datura Noir, and Miel de Bois.

Miel de Bois is practically straight honey. I prefer L'Occitane's Honey and Lemon which has less honey predominating:

Miel de Bois:
Notes of honey and woods with top notes of ebony, gaiac and oak wood, middle notes of honey and bottom notes of beeswax, iris and hawthorn.

Honey and Lemon:
lemon and citrus fruit, golden honey, vanilla and caramel scents.

I liked this Datura Noir quite a bit, but I have Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier's Secrete Datura* and while not the same, it gave me pause to think of getting this one. I look forward to putting it on skin again, and comparing it to SD.

Datura Noir

Notes of myrrh, bitter almond, tonka bean, and musk, heliotrope, mandarin, lemon flower, and tuberose, vanilla, coconut oil, and apricot.

My favorite of what I tried was Rousse . I fell in love with this one, but I would want to sample it comparing it to Fou d'Absinthe on my next trip, unless I simply decide to bite the bullet and get both. Rousse was created by Chris Sheldrake. Cinnamon is one of my favorite spices, so to have it in a fragrance that is more than gourmand, is a delight.

I expected it to be like Chypre Rouge, which I find masculine, but it is not. Rousse is certainly wearable by a man; it is equally wearable for me.

Rousse
notes of mandarin, cinnamon, cloves, spices, floral & aromatic notes, fruit, cinnamon wood, precious woods, amber, musk and vanilla.

Now, I would be completely happy concerning fragrance if I had one or both of the ones I loved -- but then would I be on the hunt for more? Yes, probably, but I've resigned myself to the knowledge that there are so many new offerings that it is impossible to test all of them. I must be satisfied with the few.

There were a couple Lutens I didn't care for, but I didn't write their names on the cards, and I am having trouble recognizing the names as I look for them, so I will have to have an addendum when I sample them again.

Karin

Secrete Datura's notes:

Notes: Datura, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Chocolate

Top: intermingles the lily, heliotrope and lemon.
Mid: jasmin, honeysickle, wallflower and orange blossom,
base: iris, vanilla, chocolate, and sandalwood.

Originally posted 2008-06-28 18:46:31.

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Perfume is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion. It heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure. Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel

I think it is safe to say that perfume prolongs your enjoyment of moments too. It adds both a sensory layer and a sensory memory to life's experiences. I find that I can enhance a mood -- or conversely change a mood -- by the perfume I choose for the day.

I decided this last sentence isn't exactly true for me. It is rare that I wear the same fragrance through the entire day. I much prefer to layer up and change as the day goes on and as my own feelings develop. I wear enough that I can enjoy it, but not so much that I can't change in a few hours.

Neil Morris spoke with me saying that he likes to capture memories and moments of his life in a fragrance. Behind his fragrances, there is always a story. He asked me if I would like to know the stories behind his fragrances, and of course, I said yes!

Dark Season is a lovely, lush fragrance, filled with nuances of meaning. The notes are

French cinnamon, labdanum, oak moss, myrrh, fir needle, dark vanilla, Indonesian patchouli

He told me

Dark Season is a scent impression of a time I spent in Finland visiting friends -- cold, dry shimmering nights. One evening our group took a walk through the winter woods in Lahti. The night was crystalline with cold air, and a majestic forest. The snow started to fall -- it was an other worldly landscape. The stars were like frozen lights, as if they would break in a thousand crystal pieces, if you breathed on them. We had to return home as the north wind was getting too potent. My friend lives on a street that translates: Path of the Northern Hag. In the distance we could smell the warm fires and the saunas. Out in the cold and elements, a dry cold, we felt the promise of something warm in the distance, the hearth burning. My friend served gloggi, like a mulled wine -- a perfect evening.

One thing I have longed to do for a number of years is spend some time in Finland during the winter season when the nights fill the daytime hours. I have 'family' in Helsinki and a dear 'son' who lived with us for the school year when our son was 5. Just recently he brought his son to visit us, a kind of full circle. I've spent some time in Helsinki and at their summer cottage, enjoying their saunas, not to mention the cold dip after in the crystal clear lake.

I asked Neil how he learned to speak Finnish, and he told me he'd lived there for about a year. Lovely for him! Someday I hope to do the same, even if I might be hopeless with the language.

I asked him what he would do if he could no longer use oak moss. He said, it wasn't settled yet, but he preferred to use natural oak moss and labdanum, but he has a good alternative, if he can no longer use oak moss.

Well, my impression: of course, knowing the Finnish back story enhances the fragrance for me, how could it not! My first impression is of fir needle and patchouli, the sweet kind that I love. The fragrance settles in with cinnamon wrapped around the patchouli -- both last until the end -- with vanilla casting a spell, along with the richness of myrrh. Altogether an entirely satisfying fragrance. If you love the notes, you would love it!

Yes, it is a walk in the woods, a night dark enough to let the stars shine through as crystal. (We had this experience of stars so bright you felt you could touch them, when we were at Lake Tahoe.) Wrapped around like the warmth of a good lap blanket are the notes that make up some of the spicy drinks we serve in cold weather -- but not spiced cider, as there is no apple/fruity note in it.

I think I'm thirsty!

This fragrance is not overbearing, nor sickly sweet. It is the promise of happy memories and good times, richly elegant in its simplicity.

Stayed tuned for his other fragrances on other days. The price is $150 for 2 oz of perfume. Again, these are not available at his website yet, but you can order them by requesting them. Or if you prefer, you can phone: 617-267-2315. They are also available at Takashimaya in NYC.

Karin

Originally posted 2008-01-17 18:10:13.

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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?

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2009-10-26 19:26:44.

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Bond No 9 has created its first non-specific NYC fragrances for Saks 5th Ave. Both are worthy creations -- modern, elegant and large, said to

capture the fashion-forward essence of 21st century Saks, while at the same time expressing the eclectic downtown spirit of NoHo-based Bond No. 9.

DNA for women is a classic, large gardenia scent. If you love gardenia, you will love this fragrance. A little goes a long ways, because it is long-lasting. On me, the dominant note is gardenia. Anything else is hidden among the petals.

DNA For Her
Gardenia, sparkling jasmine, vetiver and vanilla.

I love the scent of gardenias, brought into the house. I float them in bowls.

This scent is true to real gardenia. So many perfumes are not.

DNA for men is an elegant aqua scent, with a classic masculine ambiance, through the notes that are generally thought to be part of men's fragrances.

DNA For Him
Sicilian bergamot, cardamom, amber and cedarwood.

Of interest are these notes:

What makes this eau de parfum metro-modernity is the addition of notes that are new to luxury perfumes: a marine accord, fiery chilies, seductive incense and soothing guaiac wood from South America.

While it is said to be for both men and women, it leans more masculine to me. I would like to smell it on a man. It is perfectly wearable for a woman, once the top notes develop into the lower notes. But the top notes are decidedly masculine. If you are a woman who wears it, tell me how it develops for you.

If you are a bottle collector, the bottles are quite, quite lovely, dramatic black and white, echoed in the new SAKs shopping bags. The women's is white with black; the men's is black with white. They rank up right up there with the Chinatown bottle, which is red and white. You won't be sorry to add either of these bottles to your collection, and if the man in your life wears it, it will be an added plus.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-10-29 07:47:22.

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What a pretty bottle:

11:00 Book Girl likes this one. Her first words:

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!

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Modele № 2 EAU DE PARFUM 50ml e 1.7FL OZ

US $200.00

3d 39m

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire, Modele No. 1

US $89.99

3d 17h 47m

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Modele No 1 Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz 50 ml NEW TESTER

3 Bids

US $60.01

4d 1m

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noir - Eau de Parfum - 50ml - Unopened.

US $120.00

5d 4h 40m

GUERLAIN - LA PETITE ROBE NOIR - EAU DE PARFUM 5 ML / 0.16 OZ - MINI - NEW!!

US $58.99

21d 13h 17m

Originally posted 2009-03-17 11:40:46.

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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.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2008-06-20 13:30:42.

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