It has been a long time since I've tried anything new from Demeter, the line that specializes in bottling individual smells. Demeter is all about the fun factor; you don't look to the line for complicated perfumes, and lasting power is not their strong point. Here are a few of their latest fragrance releases:
Baby Powder is, well, just that: a dead ringer for Johnson & Johnsons. A bit of sharpness in the top notes, then, baby powder. I don't much like the smell of baby powder, but if you do, I suppose this is less messy than the real thing? After 30 minutes, it is very soft and clean and pleasant, actually. Several sprays lasted about 3 hours.
Ginger Cookie: something plastic-ish in the top notes resolves within about a minute, leaving the smell of a ginger cookie — you can see where these reviews are going, right? — heavy on the ginger and molasses and clove. If, like me, you aren't planning to do any holiday baking this year, this is a nice substitute for the real thing, although be warned, this will make you hungry. If you are planning to bake, there is a recipe on the label. Better than average lasting power. Demeter also makes Gingerale and Gingerbread, but I haven't tried either.
Redhead in Bed is in the Happy Hour Collection, and according to the recipe on the label, calls for gin, strawberry and lemon. Smells like a strawberry lollipop dissolved in gin. Remind me never to order one of these in a bar. Between the Sheets, also from the Happy Hour Collection, is more palatable: a blend of exotic fruits (mango, guava & passion fruit) with rum, orange and lemon. This one isn't nearly as sweet as it sounds — the citrus cuts some of the sugar — but it does get more candied as it dries down. I'm guessing these would be most likely to appeal to someone who likes the cocktails in question. I'm a vodka gimlet type myself.
Fiery Curry, from the Herbology Collection, is far and away my favorite from this bunch. It isn't the hot Indian curry you might expect; it was inspired by the Thai dish prik kee noo, with lemongrass, lime, cilantro and galangal. The lemony top notes are wonderful over the galangal; the combination reminds me of freshly ground coriander. The dry down is very soft spices, with perhaps a touch of hot pepper, but there is nothing either fiery or foody about it. This could easily be the starting place for a series from Comme des Garçons — series 9, Curries of the World? Very nice, but will need to be reapplied frequently. I'd love to try this one in the body lotion.
Demeter fragrances run $19 for 30 ml of "Pick-Me-Up Cologne Spray". Larger sizes are available, as are matching body products and room sprays. For buying information, see the listing for Demeter under Perfume Houses.
Tomorrow: Demeter Thunderstorm & Cannabis Flower
YESSS!!! A CdG CURRY Series!!! Sign me up! Honestly, that one sounds great.
The drinks ones I've smelled are disgusting. You're right, though — I'm a dry gin type.
Looking forward to Thunderstorm!
I'll send a memo over to CdG, LOL…
Actually, the first thing I thought when I smelled Between the Sheets was that if you wanted to smell like an island-vacation-cocktail, you'd be much wiser to buy this than to shell out for an Escada seasonal thing. Same sort of scent, much cheaper. But somebody should do a vodka gimlet scent. The real thing, not the overly sweet Rose's Lime version.
I cannot agree more with you on Between the Sheets as a good alternative to Escada's summer scents. Vodka gimlet sounds very nice!
Want Fiery Curry!
Very tired today & could use a vodka gimlet myself 🙂
M, this one has definite layering possibilities. Have never tried any of the Demeter lotions, but if this one was true to the scent and even slightly longer lasting, then it would be a great thing to have.
Redhead in Bed, is that really a drink or a scent? I think I need to pay a visit to a club and catch up on new drinks.
Agree on the curry series, that would be awesome!
I know it is a drink only because a) it is in the Happy Hour Collection and b) the recipe is on the label. I'm dating myself I'm sure, LOL…its probably been around for years.
As a redhead, I was intrigued by the Redhead in Bed idea. What a let down to find it's some sticky cocktail!
Eww, I don't want to smell like curry! Is that sexy, curry? If I must smell like food I want to be as desireable as a jelly-filled donut.
LOL…sorry to disappoint you!
Oh, I'll take the curry over the jelly donut. Sexy isn't everything 😉
Looking forward to the Cannabis Flower review – I'd been curious over that one myself, but hadn't the nerve to buy unsniffed 🙂 I think my favorite things from Demeter are turning out to be their room sprays – they strike just the right balance between being lightly fragranced and just fragranced enough to do the job.
The Curry sounds fantastic. Will be on the look out for testers for that one!
Robin, you really should try Demeter Gingerale: it's delightful. I reviewed it on my blog a while back (http://1000scents.blogspot.com/2006/03/happy-talk-demeter-gingerale.html), but all you really need to know is that it smells carbonated–it's got a sparkle that seems as if you've put your nose over a glass of freshly poured ginger ale. Entirely convincing and positively amazing. No real lasting power, of course, but we expect that of most Demeters.
And I've never tried the room sprays…will have to see if they are at Ulta.
That sounds great, actually. Will check out your review!
Im about to buy unsniffed the following from demeter:
Cannabis Flower/ Fig Leaf/Vetiver .
The first is for a hemp loving friend, the second for me and the third for my hubby's birthday later in jan.
I read great reviews, and they are not expensive at all, so I guess it's worth the risk.
I am blessed with a skin that makes perfumes persist a little longer than average, so I think the short lasting issue is not a problem 😉
Wish me luck! hehehe
Just posted a review of the Cannabis Flower — very pleasant scent but not sure it will be what you're looking for! Would love to hear how Vetiver works out, it is one of my favorite notes.
I'm not sure how widespread the Wild Oats chain of groceries are, but they've really started to expand the collection of Demeter products they stock in my neck of the woods. And they always have testers available, including for the room sprays 🙂
Thanks K. We are a bit behind, no Wild Oats yet…
You were much more than doubting about Demeter lasting power scents… : I recently purchased Demeter colognes and I've been really disapointed (and deceived) by their lasting power and lack of silllage (even though that the scents are really funny and lovely). So, I wrote them explaining my disapointment, and here is what they answered me : “The brief duration of our scents generally (some do last longer than others), however, is part and parcel of the Demeter concept, which is deeply rooted in the relationship between your sense of smell and sense memories. […] In order to achieve these scents, however, we chose to use the context of the “Pick Me Up Cologne Spray”, with lighter scents that are designed to be reapplied often, and a price point reflective of that intended use.
[…] making the fragrances longer lasting is not simply a matter of increasing the oil concentration. If it was, we would have done it a long time ago. […] Thus, in order to make longer lasting scents that are still recognizable as representing the objects for which they are named we would actually have to redesign the essential oils, and probably add synthetic binders and emulsifiers to our fragrances, something that we are not much interested in doing.”
To sum up : Demeter has got a surprising concept of “no lasting power” frag and doesn't want to use chemical stuffs ( hi hi hi !!!).
Can anyone help me to understand that joke ?
Demeter has just replied my mail again . Here is partially what they wrote :
“We are launching a collection of scents from Jane Packer, the English florist this fall, and they will both me more traditional in their lasting power, and use 100% natural oils. We cannot make the broad range of scents, and develop some of our unique perspectives limiting ourselves to 100% natural essential oils, but we can do some impressive florals.”
Good news ! Eager to sniff that ! (if the lasting power and the sillage are good…)
Well, to my mind, Demeter could be a very lovely, funny and innovative brand if they'd increase the quality of their products. What do you think about that point ?
Xxerus, I'll leave aside the part about synthetics, which seems silly, but I don't mind the overall concept. Yes, they're short lived & lack sillage, but they aren't meant to compete with the kinds of perfumes that have staying power & sillage. Things like Beetroot or Thunderstorm or Gingerale, to me, are about the “scent memory” factor. I wouldn't want to smell like Beetroot all day, but it is really cool to spray some on — they're fun, and you can get 15 ml for $5. That is ok with me. There are plenty of other companies doing more complicated fragrances, I do think there's a place for a company doing quick, cheap fun.
If you want longer lasting “scent memories”, you might try CB I Hate Perfume's accords. They're wonderful too, and do last longer, although you'll pay more.
Sort of maybe answered that below, but truth be told, I haven't loved Demeter's attempts at more “regular” or “mainstream” scents w/ top, bottom & basenotes…we'll see how the Jane Packer scents turn out, but in general, I'm not looking to see Demeter raise quality & prices…I wouldn't want to pay much more for the ones I love than I already do, you know? If I want quality and long lasting as opposed to “fun”, I have plenty of other perfumes to turn to.
Just got the Gingerbread last night. Had to special order it from Demeter …scent untested…..just because the thought of it sounded so yummy. It is very intense, dark and spicy..but on me…had a distinct aroma impression of a room fragrance spray. I'd probably only layer it with another Demeter rather than on it's own…maybe a lemon one…but it does smell just like gingerbread.
Well drat! I still haven't tried Gingerbread, but fell so in love with Gingerale that I eventually had to buy it.