California-based indie brand JoAnne Bassett Perfumes has launched Reflections, a new limited edition fragrance…
Honore des Pres Vamp a NY ~ perfume review
The certified organic We Love New York collection from Honoré des Prés is one of the best surprises of 2010. Like many others, I had issues with the line’s debut scents, launched in 2008 and developed by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti.1 My favorite of the first five was Sexy Angelic, a tribute to the calisson, specialty of Aix-en-Provence and possibly the world’s most divine confection. Sexy Angelic opens with a fresh, mouthwatering cloud of marzipan and crystallized melon… and then, swiftly, nothing. Within a minute or two, the top notes have completely dissipated, leaving behind a very faintly minty, showered-skin smell that lasts for approximately six more minutes. Even for all-natural eaux and in the context of Giacobetti’s ethereal Iunx waters, four of the original Honoré scents set new records for brevity. Unfortunately, the sole enduring scent, Chaman’s Party, seems to feature enough tulsi (aka holy basil) to remind me of those ayurvedic teas served at spas where you are instructed to always apply facial moisturizer with a counter clockwise motion. (Don’t let me discourage you from sampling it, though. It was a winner for Robin.) The experience seemed too mixed for 100 ml at $145, so with mild disappointment, I mentally filed the line away as one not likely to inspire a purchase.
But then, with the announcement of the We Love New York trio in March, I had to consider re-filing. From the note lists, which seemed to promise bolder, longer-lasting fragrances, to the painfully cute, coffee-themed packaging: everything about I Love Les Carottes, Love Coco and Vamp à NY caught the attention of wired perfumanity…
Ed Hardy Born Wild, Honore des Pres Love Coco, Crabtree & Evelyn Iris ~ quick perfume reviews
It’s beginning to dawn on me that I will not clear out my sample backlog by the end of the year, in fact, I’m thinking maybe I will never clear my sample backlog. All the same, it doesn’t hurt to try, right? Here are a few more unrelated quickie perfume reviews.
Ed Hardy Born Wild
Ed Hardy’s fourth fragrance for women, Born Wild, is just what you’d expect — a sweet-ish, middle-of-the-road fruity floral in their signature tattoo-inspired packaging. The fruit du jour: peach. Born Wild is light (think spring/summer rather than winter/fall), clean and inoffensive, and the lasting power is reasonable enough…
Holiday fragrance gifts 2010, part 5 ~ indie edition
More gift ideas, this time featuring some indie brands. If you missed them, see part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 of this year’s gift series.
From Aftelier, a vintage two-sided enamel cloisonne compact (“Exquisite enamel cloisonne compact with mirror framed with brass rope inside lid. Blue and white enamel framed in brass creating geometric pattern on lid and base. Side has floral ribbon pattern.”) to be filled with 7.5 ml of the solid perfume of your choice, $325-550…
Aftelier Honey Blossom, Memento, Wildflowers ~ new fragrances
Indie natural line Aftelier has launched three new fragrances. Honey Blossom and Memento are liquid perfumes; Wildflowers is a solid perfume…