Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir candle ~ home fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 14 November 2018 21 Comments

Playing the role of counselor to my own addiction, I might ask: “What about expensive scented candles (average cost: $100) appeals to you, Kevin?” Lots of things! Well-chosen candles have perfume-quality aromas. I can vouch for $cented candles by Annick Goutal, Astier de Villatte, Cire Trudon, Diptyque, D.L. & Co., Frédéric Malle…and, now, Ormonde Jayne.

Often, scented-candle packaging is beautiful, too. I can make one helluva candle display around the holidays using empty vessels that once housed extravagantly priced scented candles…

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Serge Lutens Le Participe Passe ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 7 November 2018 46 Comments

This summer I came across the entire Serge Lutens Collection Noir in a boutique where I could smell them at my own pace and in peace. In this repackaged collection reside many of my favorite Lutens’ fragrances; I’ll name just two: Ambre Sultan and Chergui. As I sniffed, something was wrong. First, I felt the bottles; they were not hot to the touch. Next, I gauged their placement; no way the sun could reach them. Then I inspected the packaging closely: were these knock-offs? (Didn’t seem to be; the store I was in is respected.) I realized the bad perfume I was experiencing was likely due to recent reformulations and I’m guessing we can’t blame IFRA this time around but, perhaps, a cynical, budget-cutting philosophy at Shiseido. Who knows?

Ambre Sultan has lost all its glory…

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Otherland Rattan, Kindling, Cardamom Milk & Tapestry candles ~ home fragrance reviews

Posted by Kevin on 24 October 2018 11 Comments

Scented candles are expensive. I don’t want to think about the $$$s I’ve spent on them. Here at Now Smell This, I often write about candles that are on the high-end of the candle spectrum (average price: $100). This summer I was introduced to a new line of candles that smell and look (hefty well-designed containers and packaging) more extravagant than their $36 price — Otherland.

The Core Collection provided my first sniffs of Otherland candles and two scents stood out for me: Rattan and Kindling…

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Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 11 October 2018 17 Comments

Robin Here at NST® has a PhD in Hermès Eau de Merveilles and its spawn: she’s reviewed all seven perfumes. I have an easier assignment; Hermès has launched just three Terre d’Hermès flankers: Terre d’Hermès Eau Très Fraîche, Terre d’Hermès Parfum and the new Terre d’Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver.

Hermès in-house perfumer Christine Nagel developed Terre d’Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver, and its description is pretty straightforward…

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Ormonde Jayne Cuir Imperial ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 26 September 2018 19 Comments

How many leather fragrances do I own? Three. Chanel Cuir de Russie, Robert Piguet Bandit and Frédéric Malle Monsieur. Stand-out leathers are hard to find; many leather fragrances smell so similar.

Cuir de Russie is a perfume version of a sleek, quirky, man-made bibelot (my house is full of these, too; see my current lemming — the eyeball paperweight from L’Objet —below). Bandit is more of a stand-out ‘natural’ object that’s showy and hard to miss: a glossy chunk of red coral, say…or a hot-pink seashell the size of your head, a Haida basket full of aromatic betel nuts from India. Monsieur’s raunch and libertine paunch prompts a “leather” virtual reality experience…

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