Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola ~ perfume review

Posted by Robin on 26 May 2015 34 Comments

Neela Vermeire Créations Pichola

I haven’t reviewed anything from French niche line Neela Vermeire Créations so far, primarily because I know Neela — in the online sense; we’ve never met in person. Pichola so caught my fancy that I’ve been wearing it for weeks, though, and this time I couldn’t resist. Do see my disclaimer below.¹

Pichola is named for Lake Pichola, and looking over images of the lake and its palace-studded islands is a pleasant way to while away your morning online, if you were in need of one. So like the other perfumes in the Neela Vermeire Créations line, Pichola was inspired by India. Perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour’s composition, like that of his recent Ostara for Penhaligon’s, comes with a long list of notes…

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Penhaligon’s Ostara ~ perfume review

Posted by Robin on 5 May 2015 42 Comments

Penhaligon's Ostara

I have fallen woefully behind on Penhaligon’s — and on many other brands as well, but right now I’ll focus on Penhaligon’s. Someone do comment if any of the four fragrances in their Trade Routes collection (Empressa, Levantium, Lothair and As Sawira) are absolute-must-tries, otherwise, they will remain four more faceless (smell-less?) entities in the sea of niche releases. Who can keep up?

As I’ve said in the past, I’m a bit lukewarm about Penhaligon’s anyway. They do a good job at what they do, but what they do, with one exception, doesn’t especially suit me. The latest, Ostara,¹ got my attention because a) it’s narcissus, and b) the graphics are pretty (yes, I’m that shallow) and c) it’s perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, but a solar floral fragrance that promised to “capture the optimism and sunlight that spring brings” did not sound like his usual…

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Ann Gerard Perle de Mousse & Ciel d’Opale ~ fragrance reviews

Posted by Angela on 4 May 2015 24 Comments

Ann Gerard Perle de Mousse & Ciel d'Opale

For months now, my backyard has been a dull landscape of pea gravel and weeds with a naked plum tree in the middle. Practically overnight, the garden — I see it from my desk right now — has erupted in color: shocking pink peonies and rhododendron, purple iris, yellow roses and pale, newly green leaves. It’s the perfect time to drain my samples of two tender, warmer weather fragrances, Ann Gérard Perle de Mousse and Ciel d’Opale.

Perle de Mousse and Ciel d’Opale (along with Cuir de Nacre) were created by perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour and released in 2012. To me, the Ann Gérard perfume style is classic, subtle and sophisticated…

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