A Tropical Treacle: Providence Perfume Co. Lei Flower

Tags

100% Natural, bitter almond, chamomile, Charna Ethier, cocoa, currant bud, Floral, Floral Gourmand, frangipani, Graveyard, Jasmine, Natural Perfume, Noses, Patchouli, sweet orange, tarragon, Vanilla, Ylang Ylang, yuzu

Natural perfumery is still a world I haven’t really delved into. To be honest, it’s a genre of perfumery that actually scares me.

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Scent of the Day: The Smell of Carnival….

Tags

Amber, Apricot, Autumn, bergamot and cotton candy, blackberry, Caramel, cassia, Coconut, dark chocolate, Designer, Gourmand, honey, Jasmine, lily of the valley, Mainstream, mandarin orange, melon, Musk, Noses, Orchid, Patchouli, peach, plum, Red Berries, Rose, Scent of the Day, Season, Series, Thierry Mugler, tonka bean, Vanilla, Winter

Midway Sunset by Carl Christensen

Want to know what I’m wearing?

Olfactory Snapshots: Caron Bellodgia, Fragonard Billet Doux, Serge Lutens Vitriol d’Oeillet

Tags

amalfi lemon, Bergamot, carnation, cedar, Clove, Ernest Daltroff, Favorite Flowers, Flower of the Month, frangipani, Jane Austen, January, Jasmine, lily, lily of the valley, mandarin orange, Musk, Niche, Noses, Nutmeg, olfactory snapshots, paprika, peony, Pepper, Perfume Review, pink pepper, Serge Lutens, Series, Vanilla, Vanille, Wallflower, Ylang Ylang

This is part 2 of Flower of the Month Series.  To recap, if you haven’t read part 1, carnations are the birth flower of January. You can read all about the history of carnations and their significance here. 

There are so many carnation fragrances out there, it was hard for me to pick three samples.  I wish I can try them all because I’m curious to smell different variations of this commonplace flower. I’m determined to find one that really speaks to me as my signature carnation. The following are carnation perfumes I have tested so far.  These are just off-the-cuff first impressions or olfactory snapshots so my opinion may change as I spend more time to get to know the juice better. You can expect thorough reviews later down the road.

Bath & Body Review: Savor Apricot Creme Whipped Soap

Tags

Apricot, Bath & Body, Creme Fraiche, Lisa Salamida, Noses, San Francisco, Savor, SF Bay Area Perfumers & Artisans, Soap, Vanilla, Whipped Soap

San Francisco independent soap company, Savor, has now climbed up the ranks of holy grail status in the soap department.  Their soaps blow Lush out of the water shower in my opinion.  Their customer service is top notch.  Easy transaction and quick turnaround!  The owner, Lisa Salamida, is in the middle of recovering from eye surgery and I still received my order in two days!  Talk about dedication to her customers.  Their products match their level of customer service, high quality!

January Flower of the Month ~ Carnations: Possets Silver Carnation

Tags

All Year, carnation, Casual, chocolate, Clove, Date Night, Fabienne Christenson, Favorite Flowers, Floral, Flower of the Month, Indie, January, Noses, Occasion, Scentimental Value, Season, Series, spices, Vanilla

Thanks to Sex and the City, every time I see carnations I just have to laugh.  I remember that episode when Charlotte scornfully dismisses the poor carnation as filler flowers.  Unfortunately, a large majority of women share the same opinion as Charlotte.  Carnations are the poor man’s flower and rank #2 on the cheesy flower list after dandelions.  If a man gives a woman carnations, he can kiss that second date goodbye!

Christmas with Morrissey: Comme des Garçons Series 3 Incense Avignon

Tags

Alkemia Perfumes, ambrette seeds, Avignon, Bertrand Duchaufour, Christmas, cistus oil, Comme des Garçons, elemi, Full Bottle Wishlist, Guerlain, incense, Les Mysteres, Men's Fragrances, Midnight Mass, Morrissey, Niche, Occasion, palisander, Patchouli, Regina Harris Frankincense Rose Maroc, Roman chamomile, Shalimar, Smiths, Vanilla, Wishlist

“Good times for a change

See the luck I’ve had

Can make a good man turn bad

So please please please

Let me, let me, let me

Let me get what I want this time…”

A Debonair Gingerbread Man: Parfumerie Generale Un Crime Exotique

Tags

Autumn, Chinese osmanthus, Christmas, Cinnamon, Clark Gable, Foodie Fumes, Gingerbread, Gingerbread man, Gingerbread Whorehouse, Holiday, mate, Men's Fragrance Friday, Men's Fragrances, Niche, Occasion, osmanthus, Pierre Guillaume, Possets, San Francisco, Sandalwood, Season, Series, star anise, Sugar, tea, Un Crime Exotique, Vanilla, Winter

 

 “Gingerbread man, me love you

Gingerbread man, ’cause you got

Cookie hands and cookie feet

You brown and friendly and delicious to eat…”

O Christmas Tree: Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Winter Delice

Tags

Balsam, Christmas, Christmas tree, Designer, Discontinued, Fir trees, Graveyard, Guerlain, Guerlain Allegoria Aqua Winter Delice, Men's Fragrances, O Tannenbaum, Occasion, Scotch Pine, Season, Somalian Incense, Sugar, Vanilla, Winter, woody oriental

 “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How are thy leaves so verdant!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How are thy leaves so verdant!…”

A Waste of 7 Bucks: Burt’s Bees Naturally Sensual Solid Perfume

Tags

100% Natural, Burt's Bees, Italian Lemon, Mainstream, Natural Perfume, Naturally Sensual Solid Perfume, Patchouli, Perfume, Review, Rose-Geranium Melange, Scentimental Value, Series, Solid Perfume, Sweet Pineapple, Vanilla

 

I know I’m late to the party on this one.  A month ago, I was shopping for my usual sundries at my local drugstore.  I came across the Burt’s Bees display and was pleasantly surprised that Burt’s Bees finally released a line of perfumes.  I am a big fan of their products and I’m smitten with their Apricot oil.  I figure if I was in love with their Apricot oil, I would fall in love with their solid perfumes.  They were on sale for 7 bucks so I said what the heck and grabbed two. 

Savor: Pistachio & Rosewater Cake Creme Fraiche Whipped Soap

Tags

Baklava, Bath & Body, Cherry, Creme Fraiche, Foodie Fumes, Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Kulfi, Lisa Salamida, Lokoum, Middle Easter Cuisine, Persian Love Cake, Pistachio, Pistachio and Rosewater Cake, Review, Rose, Rose Absolute, Rosewater, Series, SF Bay Area Perfumers & Artisans, Soap, Turkish Delight, Vanilla, Whipped Soap, Wishlist, Wishlist Bath & Body

If there is one thing the Middle East does well, it is the use of aromatics and spices in their confectionaries and desserts.  Rosewater is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. In Islamic culture, rosewater is often used as a halal substitute for red wine and alcohol in food. Turkish Delight, known as lokoum in Arabic, originated in Turkey and was introduced to Western Europe in the 19th century. These little perfumed pillow morsels of nutty pistachio, rosewater and powdered sugar are still popular today.  Kulfi is a popular frozen dairy dessert (much like ice cream) throughout the Indian subcontinent.