[perfume] A visit to Les Scenteurs

[kaberett]

1. Serge Lutens Daim Blond. I have been curious about this for, like, ever (or at least a while), because it's described as iris, apricots, musk, hawthorne, white suede. I really, really wish I liked it; on my it goes through a brief phase of being beautifully ripe and luscious fresh apricots, and then it goes... confusing. Confusing and cheap bubblebath. Perfumes says of it:

Unlike traditional leathers such as Tabu and Tabac Blond, which have felt rich and warm, Daim Blond (meaning suede, and not, as it sounds, an accursed towhead) feels arid and cool, a hollowed-out osmanthus-like idea of peach and leather but no soapy center; it unfolds a spare, long-fingered form whose intentions seem to mark a departure from the more straightforward orientalist scents of the Lutens range so far.

... and seems to be ever the case with Perfumes, whatever the hell their skin chemistry is doing to scents is not the same as mine. Because this? This is bubblebath and digestive biscuit crumbs.

2. Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt. It goes sweet and woody on me but definitely keeps the suggestion of a sea breeze; I kind of fell for it a couple of months ago when I tried it on and now have a little more. I am pretty sure it is what the Luideag in Seanan McGuire's Toby Daye series smells like.

3. Etat Libre d'Orange Rossy de Palma (Eau du Protection). To me on the sample strip, unambiguously sweet milk tea with a generous dash of rosewater. It appears to get described as black pepper from Madagascar, ginger and bergamot meld with Bulgarian roses, jasmine, benzoin, patchouli and incense. At the deepest depth, a troubling metallic note – the scent of a bleeding heart. Of course having had it smell so different on cardboard versus the description makes me sort of wish I'd tried it on the skin, but ah well, next time.

4. Nu_Be 3Li Lithium. It claims to be

An ephemeral sweet freshness of rose and the golden warmth of saffron darkens into soft musk and woods: patchouli, oak and leather meld with powdery orris. Strong and intense but floating weightlessly in the infinity of space.

-- in practice, on the boything it smells to me like freeze-dried yoghurt-coated strawberries in granola. thomas reckons it's a cologne, just a really unusual and nice one.

5. Cloon Keen Atelier Sybarite contains Incense, bergamot, jasmine, bulgarian rose, sandalwood, amber, patchouli, musk, cedar; thomas would apparently happily cover me in the stuff. Strip only; very cool and clear, interestingly. Lune de Gievre is also very interestingly cool and metallic.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

To me on the sample strip, unambiguously sweet milk tea with a generous dash of rosewater.

*is fascinated* On my skin, I get a very sharp/green/spiky rose, with the pepper, ginger and chocolate definitely discernible, and sometimes the blood note.

[kaberett]

Heeeeeee. Perhaps I will try it on at some point!

(Also, Heely's Oranges And Lemons Say The Bells Of St Clement's is afaict indistinguishable to No4711, except maybe it lasts a little better?)

[davidgillon]

ginger and bergamot meld with

For some reason my mind read this as ginger and turbot, which would be an entirely different scent!

freeze-dried yoghurt-coated strawberries in granola

Okay, now I've got to go and eat a strawberry granola breakfast corner.

[dreamfracture.insanejournal.com]

Sybarite has jasmine in it? No wonder I wanted to cover you with the stuff.