Scent/Fragrance of the Day thread

[rach2jlc]

An economical summer staple for me today (as the weather is in the mid 70's): Monsieur Balmain. An excellent dry, woody citrus with a lemon topnote not to be missed. As well, for $20 or so, it's really a great one.

 

[tangerine]

My warm weather choice for today is Guerlain Vetiver.

This has grown on me; I didn't like it the first time I wore it. It seemed mostly like soap. But now I am finding a lot to like in it, like long grass, pepper, citrus and tobacco.

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I thought those tubes were single-use doses! No wonder they all seemed so strong! Might have to try a few Pen's soon...I'm told they make excellent shaving soaps.
Don't know about the soaps, but I like the scents. A few must be classics, because I recognized them the minute I smelled them. Blenheim Bouquet is one. It was instantly familiar. You may not have smelled the precise Racquets formulation before, but you will surely recognize it if you've been to a locker room (someone tell me if that is what Chypre smells like). Douro was also familiar to me, even if I have never knowingly smelled it before - it was just a classic men's cologne and one of you experts could likely tell me ten others just like it. Hammam Bouquet and Endymion are not in this category. English Fern was familiar as a real life scent, though not as a perfume.

 

[Parker]

^ Same for me today. I didn't like the Vetiver at first. Seemed too... "old", but it's grown on me now. Good for a nice warm San Francisco day.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by dopey

Don't know about the soaps, but I like the scents. A few must be classics, because I recognized them the minute I smelled them. Blenheim Bouquet is one. It was instantly familiar. You may not have smelled the precise Racquets formulation before, but you will surely recognize it if you've been to a locker room (someone tell me if that is what Chypre smells like). Douro was also familiar to me, even if I have never knowingly smelled it before - it was just a classic men's cologne and one of you experts could likely tell me ten others just like it.

Hammam Bouquet and Endymion are not in this category. English Fern was familiar as a real life scent, though not as a perfume.

The ubiquity of some of their scents wouldn't surprise me in the least. They've been around a while. Then again, there's also a bit of overlap between scents where one house's scent A smells really really close to another house's scent B.

For instance, Trumper's Sandalwood cologne smells a whole lot like Chanel Egoiste. To me they are dead ringers for each other.

Today though I'm back in a fall-type scent: Hermes Bel Ami.

 

[LabelKing]

Has anyone ever smelled Creed's Cuir de Russie? I'm a general fan of these leather scents--and Chanel's Cuir de Russie is quite nice--but Creed's might be a bit light in comparison?

I'd also like to find a good rich Peau d'Espagne.

 

[Dmax]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Has anyone ever smelled Creed's Cuir de Russie? I'm a general fan of these leather scents--and Chanel's Cuir de Russie is quite nice--but Creed's might be a bit light in comparison?

Yes, and it's certainly not light. It's very heavy and assertive actually. I own both and Chanel is several magnitudes lighter. IMHO of course.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Dmax

Yes, and it's certainly not light. It's very heavy and assertive actually. I own both and Chanel is several magnitudes lighter. IMHO of course.

I suppose it depends on one's skin chemistry. Some reviews I read stated that it was lighter than Chanel, or at least that was the impression I got.

It sounds like a good summer scent.

 

[rach2jlc]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

Has anyone ever smelled Creed's Cuir de Russie? I'm a general fan of these leather scents--and Chanel's Cuir de Russie is quite nice--but Creed's might be a bit light in comparison? I'd also like to find a good rich Peau d'Espagne.
You definitely need the SMN (mentioned above). It's the stinkiest leather on the market. You'll love it. As for Creed vs. Chanel Cuir de Russie... they're quite different. The Chanel is softer where the Creed is a little more harsh, a little more "rugged." Have you tried Knize Ten, LK? It's a MUST for fans of leather-notes.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

You definitely need the SMN (mentioned above). It's the stinkiest leather on the market. You'll love it.

As for Creed vs. Chanel Cuir de Russie... they're quite different. The Chanel is softer where the Creed is a little more harsh, a little more "rugged."

Have you tried Knize Ten, LK? It's a MUST for fans of leather-notes.

SMN also seems to offer a Cuba and Sandalo, which look compelling.

I have tried Knize Ten actually, but didn't like it too much. It didn't have that strength if you will, which was also the case with Caron's Tabac Blond. Slightly powdery, which is not something I like.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Dmax

Yes, and (Creed)'s certainly not light. It's very heavy and assertive actually. I own both and Chanel is several magnitudes lighter. IMHO of course.

Very heavy on the birch-tar and kind of smoky.

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I suppose it depends on one's skin chemistry. Some reviews I read stated that it was lighter than Chanel, or at least that was the impression I got.

It sounds like a good summer scent.

More than any other scent, Creed CdR is like a boot to the face. Tried to wear it once in the spring and wished I hadn't. Then again it's very short-lived - even on me - so I didn't suffer too long.

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

You definitely need the SMN (mentioned above). It's the stinkiest leather on the market. You'll love it.

As for Creed vs. Chanel Cuir de Russie... they're quite different. The Chanel is softer where the Creed is a little more harsh, a little more "rugged."

Have you tried Knize Ten, LK? It's a MUST for fans of leather-notes.

Oh dear God not Knize Ten.

Originally Posted by LabelKing

SMN also seems to offer a Cuba and Sandalo, which look compelling.

I have tried Knize Ten actually, but didn't like it too much. It didn't have that strength if you will, which was also the case with Caron's Tabac Blond. Slightly powdery, which is not something I like.

The few times I tried Knize Ten I felt like a ton of powdery flowers had fallen on me and I couldn't run fast enough to scrub it off.

Today: computer problems, drug seminar, and CPR certification. YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme fits the bill for that sort of Saturday.

As an aside: anyone pick up Perfumes: The guide by Turin and Sanchez? I'm rather enjoying it at the moment, although it is giving me the impression that I'm missing out on some gems.

 

[rach2jlc]

^We're just going to have to agree to disagree, Thomas. I leave you your Yatagan and I'll keep my Knize.

Monsieur Balmain for me today. Most everything else is packed and so I'm using up the last 10mls of my bottle of the Balmain.

 

[tangerine]

Originally Posted by Thomas

...

As an aside: anyone pick up Perfumes: The guide by Turin and Sanchez? I'm rather enjoying it at the moment, although it is giving me the impression that I'm missing out on some gems.

I have been reading it in bits and pieces and enjoying it very much. I often disagree with Turin (and sometimes Sanchez) but I love how they write, and I am willing to try some of their recommendations, even though I have been disappointed in the past by some of LT's raves (Paco Rabanne La Nuit in particular.) I also accord Dr. Turin some respect for his knowledge of the science of perfumery.

Today am wearing Tabac Blond extrait (which Turin rated one star.) I fall in and out of love with this one; today it is love.

I still see it more as a moss/chypre than a leather, maybe I will feel the leather some day.

 

[Baron]

I've been reading it too. I've always loved his writing and I think she's very good too. I read in the NY Times that they're married? Is that true? I don't always agree with Turin, but I do often enough (PdN New York, Azzaro PH, Mitsouko, Guerlain Vetiver in the original formulation, Declaration, etc.) that I'll buy blind from some of the things he writes. To that end, I just bought Yohji Homme from ebay. I should have it in a few days.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by tangerine

I have been reading it in bits and pieces and enjoying it very much. I often disagree with Turin (and sometimes Sanchez) but I love how they write, and I am willing to try some of their recommendations, even though I have been disappointed in the past by some of LT's raves (Paco Rabanne La Nuit in particular.) I also accord Dr. Turin some respect for his knowledge of the science of perfumery.

Today am wearing Tabac Blond extrait (which Turin rated one star.) I fall in and out of love with this one; today it is love.

I still see it more as a moss/chypre than a leather, maybe I will feel the leather some day.

Originally Posted by Baron

I've been reading it too. I've always loved his writing and I think she's very good too. I read in the NY Times that they're married? Is that true? I don't always agree with Turin, but I do often enough (PdN New York, Azzaro PH, Mitsouko, Guerlain Vetiver in the original formulation, Declaration, etc.) that I'll buy blind from some of the things he writes. To that end, I just bought Yohji Homme from ebay. I should have it in a few days.

As I understand it they are recently married to each other. Turin decided it was time to update the guide - in English this time - and thought it was too big a task for just himself, so he enlisted Sanchez who frequently contributed comments on his blog.

As for his reviews, I agree with some, but others I'm not so sure about. Although I'm learning to use his reviews to pick apart some of the scents in my rotation. For instance: PdN New York. Would not have found the amber note until I read the review.

Still reading it and am glad he didn't savage my fave: Antaeus.