Parfums de Nicolai Cuir Cuba Intense ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 3 December 2014 15 Comments

Parfums de Nicolaï Cuir Cuba Intense, brand image

Taking into consideration perfumer Patricia de Nicolaï’s description¹ (and name) of her new perfume and its notes list²…you might expect Parfums de Nicolaï Cuir Cuba Intense to be the scent equivalent of laying inside a new leather trunk on cushions stuffed with highly scented cured tobacco leaves. In press materials, Nicolaï raves about the aromas of dried tobacco leaf, unlit cigars, and even cigar boxes.

Cuir Cuba Intense is too sophisticated to simply replicate, literally, tobacco and leather aromas; it’s so sophisticated it barely brings them to mind at all…

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The Different Company Lumiere & Wood candles ~ home fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 26 November 2014 15 Comments

The Different Company candles

I haven’t bought many scented candles this year, and those I have bought are old favorites I’ve already reviewed. Recently, I received small-sized candle samples from The Different Company, and I liked almost all of them. I really enjoyed Lumière (from the Collection des Rêves) and Wood (from The Modern House line).

Lumière was developed by perfumer Delphine Jelk and lists orange blossom, ylang-ylang and white musk as major ingredients. Lumière is a semi-sweet, white floral-scented candle with the accent on creamy orange blossom (that sometimes veers into “almost-tuberose,” then “almost-edible” territory). During its gourmand phase, Lumière reminds me of pastry made with a dash of orange flower water…

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My Review Philosophy: What I Write About, What I Ignore…and a quick poll

Posted by Kevin on 19 November 2014 46 Comments

I’ve often sat at my desk surrounded by 50 or more perfume samples and thought: “I don’t have anything to review this week!” How could I think such a thing? (I don’t take this ‘dilemma’ too seriously, and completely understand if you’re thinking: “Who CARES?”)

Anyway, I have NOTHING to review this week so decided to write about reviewing. If this seems a dull topic, perhaps you’ll read my candle reviews next week?

Here’s my process for deciding what to review (or not):

Good Scents

If I come across an interesting-quirky-unusual or beautifully crafted perfume — even if it’s not that original — or a fragrance that showcases a favorite ingredient of mine in a wonderful/new way, no matter its maker or price, I review it…

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Tom Ford Fleur de Chine ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 12 November 2014 27 Comments

Branch of Flowering White Jasmine

I believe (tell me if I’m wrong) I have given more attention to the Tom Ford Private Blends than any other contributor here at Now Smell This (and I’ve liked more of the Private Blend perfumes than my cohorts, too). But over the last couple of years, my interest in the brand has waned, as one overpriced, under-thought-out perfume after another joined the range. Tom Ford’s Private Blend Atelier d’Orient Collection has been out 18 months and I’ve just sampled all four fragrances; three were yawners to me, but Fleur de Chine¹ was a happy surprise.

Fleur de Chine opens with a brash salvo of aldehydes, floral spice (very wisteria-like), tart citrus, and semi-indolic magnolia…

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Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Wood & Michael Kors for Men ~ fragrance reviews

Posted by Kevin on 5 November 2014 25 Comments

Thierry Mugler A*Men Pure Wood

Thierry Mugler launched A*Men Pure Wood¹ last summer; it’s a limited edition that, according to my most-trusted Nordstrom perfume sales person, is selling fast. I was beginning to worry the A*Men “Pure” scents (among them A*Men Pure Energy, A*Men Pure Shot, A*Men Pure Havane, A*Men Pure Malt and A*Men Pure Coffee) were smelling too similar. A*Men Pure Wood stands apart from others in the “Pure” collection with its sweet/dense “oak” aroma, mingling with pungent cypress and woody vanilla and patchouli. Dare I say that my first impression of A*Men Pure Wood was: “Wow! It’s Chêne-sque!” …as in Serge Lutens; I want to try these perfumes side by side.

A*Men Pure Wood is a linear perfume, but it does not wear me out or bore me as the day progresses; in fact, I enjoy it more and more as time passes — it’s a comforting fragrance…

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