THESCENTOLOGY

An icon and a reference in perfumery THE PERFUME Guerlain, 1925, Jacques Guerlain. Four centuries ago, in India, Emperor Shah Jahan fell head over heels in love with Princess Mumtaz Mahal. He had the splendid Gardens of Shalimar built for her, and later dedicated the Taj Mahal, one of the new seven wonders of the world. This incredible story inspired the imagination of Jacques Guerlain, who in 1925 created Shalimar, the first oriental perfume. Inspired by the passionate love story between an emperor and an Indian princess, Shalimar, which means "temple of love" in S anskrit, symbolizes the promise of eternal love. It is a fragrance of desire. With its passionate and slightly insolent character, this emblematic oriental fragrance in the history of perfumery embodies the sensuality of caress with a touch of the forbidden. "To wear Shalimar is to be dominated by the senses," said Jacques Guerlain. In 1925, the Shalimar bottle designed by Raymond Gu

An homage to Shanghai's Guangqi Garden Street   THE PERFUME A floral fragrance with unique facets, 17 Nandan Road is sensual and addictive. Chinese author and poet Song Yuan was selected by Ulrich Lang New York for his visual rendition of 17 Nandan Road. Yuan photographed a dizzying image of blooming Osmanthus flowers. The outer packaging reflects the color of the Osmanthus flower, giving it a lively, young and contemporary feel. NOTES Bergamot, Green leaves, Italian lemon, pear, Iris, osmanthus, ambroxan, cedar, musk, suede. REVIEW An homage to Shanghai's Guangqi Garden street address where the osmanthus flowers can be found in full bloom during the month of October. As you can imagine, osmanthus is the main character of this fresh, airy and kinda fruity concoction thanks to the apricoty facets of the osmanthus flower. Sparkling citruses on top mixed with green notes provides the formula with a fresh and vivid opening that rapidly lets the osmanthus wrap you wit

Lun Dayeh is an oudh fat from Keningau region, Sabah - Malaysia The 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 is a small business run by a great Oudh connoisseur and person, Hamza. The knowledge and passion as well as the quality of the oils and woods are outstanding and the prices are more than reasonable so if you'd like to try high quality oudh oils and woods to burn, check his profile on Instagram 👉🏻 @theattarstore  and his website 👉🏻   www.theattarstore.com REVIEW The spicy yet herbal opening is signature of the Malaysian oudh DNA. Is that nutmeg-cinnamon combo that is spicy but pretty well balanced by mentholated and camphorous facets. The heart of Lun Dayeh is woody, earthy and even grassy with robust woods accords resembling from the roots firmly seized to a wet soil passing through the trunk and ending in a treetop which has seen pass decades. There's a certain dampness to it that reinforces the hyper reallistic wet forest aura that this oudh fat has making the wearer feel en

The son Mula Mula and Pirates would have                                  Photo by Byron Parfums *Review based on a simple provided by Byron THE PERFUME This to me is like the son Mula Mula and Pirates would have. It have the best of both worlds combined into one single piece and considering that those two scents are my favorites from the first Byron Parfums collection you can imagine how I'll judge this fragrance. In this case, Byron brought back his personal style and you can recognize this is a Byron's from a mile away. The house DNA and personality is deeply implemented in the perfume. We are in front of a floriental perfume where exotic florals and sweet resinous accords coexists to create a dreamy scent that evokes beach backgrounds. REVIEW A fruity opening with a bewitching pineapple and coconut combo surrounded by the irresistible sea notes, starts to morph into a floral heart with solar undertones where an hypnotic jasmine is supported by a sponged vanilla to

Very elegant and versatile fragrance One of the latest releases by the house of Byron Parfums. In this ocassion, the French designer decided to leave the oriental territory to compose a piece that gravitates towards the classic aromatic masculine perfumery using the kind of ingredients that makes us think in that mentioned category. Three perfectly separated phases; Fresh and aromatic opening, Floral and spicy heart and a Woody, leathery and with creamy undertones base. The Byron DNA is not marked as it usually is in the rest of his concoctions but definitely you'd get certain vibes that will let you know that you are experiencing a Byron perfume. I really enjoyed this creation and I find it truly versatile and easy to wear not meaning that fragrance is simple because it has personality yet depth in it. REVIEW Very elegant and versatile fragrance that floates around the woody, fresh, green and aromatic scent profile. It's transparent, fresh, invigorating an spicy in th

Do you love evocative perfumes and with the power to let your mind travel to unknown places? THE PERFUME A warm and complex incense scent, with a sweet ambery/ honey like note, implementing the elements of Earth, Ether and Air. Made with love, inspired and guided by Angels. This scent is infused with clear crystal and Herkimer diamond. Bottled on a Full Moon. Each bottle contains 24 karat gold flakes. This scent is connecting all dimension and realms with each other and this way our beloved friends are able to be very close to us and to help us. NOTES Incense, Labdanum, Tonka Bean, Vanilla Accord, Benzoin, Elemi Resin, Frankincense, Amber Accord, (from natural essential oils), Honey Accord, Precious Woods Accord, Opoponax, Rose Otto, Love and Angel Guidance. REVIEW A dry and somehow sweet scent that will make the resinous and dusty scents lovers's delights with its fantastically coordinated notes and stages. The opening is a blast of resins and smoke not in a burnt wa

A perfume created for a bride... My devotion for the iris note in perfumery always leads me to discover new perfumes and revisit the classics so here I found a true gem from 1977 that are based around the intriguing and always beautiful iris root note. The composition is utterly special but hat makes this perfume truly unique and even more special is because it's Ramon's first personalized perfume and he made it for the a bride who is his wife today. Used in perfumery as far back as 1480 to scent linen, orris is a mysterious and irreplaceable ingredient. Harvested from the root of Iris Pallida, orris is nearly odorless until if undergoes a few years of maturation. Once orris is distilled to become orris butter, a semi-solid essential oil, the aroma attracts many in different ways. Depending on how it's interpreted in a perfume, it can smell like anything from sweet to woody to powdery. But indisputably, it's one of the rarest and finest ingredients in the olfacti

An olfactory trip in its quintessence The other day, I introduced you to Al Shareef Oudh house, tell you about its story and showed you a review of Ward, a mesmerizing rose based attar. (read it here Today we are talking about Al Kadrie, an Indonesian Oudh oil full of personality that will take you in to a journey, straight like that. LEt me take you into Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Indonesia..... NOTES Freshly picked beautiful green Arabica coffee, woody, ambergris salty, bamboo dark, bitter, salty resinous strong oudhy base. There is no barn in this oil only oudhy ooomph, the same scent you encounter when you put a fragrant wild piece to your nose and inhale. REVIEW Picture yourself walking in the middle of a wild rainforest in the stunning location of Pontianak in West Kalimantan Indonesia. This is where this oudh fat will take you in a matter of seconds. An intriguing, mysterious and powerful strong oudh but in the best sense of the word. It opens intense, camphorous

A true mesmerizing masterpiece which contains the quality and the opulence of the best rose scents that we, the rose lovers are constantly pursuing THE HOUSE Al Shareef Oudh is an Australian house. "We are a boutique artisanal house that has traditionally crafted custom oudhs, mukhallaats and attars for statesmen, royalty and Sheikhs of native Arabian tribes. Our philosophy takes its root from traditional Middle Eastern perfumery where we celebrate the aromas of nature, seek the best of natural ingredients, and craft creations that call out to the deepest valleys of our inner self. In a simple phrase our creations become life time friends of the beholder. Our house nose and master Al Shareef Jawed, trained by his grandfather in the traditional art of eastern perfumery, has a deep appreciation and understanding of the relationship fragrances have with each of us. He always mentions how our deepest memories are associated and imprinted by scents. As such fragrances aren’t just

A delightful oriental scent  *Not my photo. Photo source: Internet Review based on a large sample obtained directly from Dior. Ambre Nuit is my favorite from the original La Collection Privée by Dior alongside Gris Montaigne (nowadays called Gris Dior). “Ambre Nuit orchestrates the meeting of two extremes. It is, to a certain extent, the olfactory expression of Beauty and the Beast. This perfume unites the somber, animal facet of amber with the delicate velvet effect of Turkish rose. It is, at the same time, a night wave of amber. Like when delicacy and strength dialogue, where opposites attract each other forming a powerful duo.” François Demachy, Perfumer-Creator Dior NOTES Amber, Rose. REVIEW Sparkling, crisp and fresh thin layer of bergamot wrapping the two clear protagonists of this truly sophisticated piece that will bewitch your soul with its deep and powdery grey amber and its oriental, luxurious, deep and velvety rose. Delicacy, refinement, quality, deligh

Foconero is more of an experience than a scent itself. NOTES Sorrento lemon, bergamot, lime, thyme, juniper, lavender, salt, oxygen, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, hyacinth, cardamom, oak moss, sandalwood, red patchouli, cedar. REVIEW Foconero is more of an experience than a scent itself. Picture yourself in the beautiful Sorrento while you enjoy the sea view from one of its multiple cliffs smelling the fresh and salty breeze with the effervescent aroma of hyper reallistic citrus and a very Mediterranean vibe thanks to the thyme and juniper. As you left the coast and get yourself into the streets of Sorrento but in a very calmed way as the transition of Foconero is, a spicy heart that transitions from fresh to herbal meets a heart of elegant oakmoss and noble woods to provide you with a rich and smooth feeling as you enjoy an espresso in Piazza Tasso. Foconero es más una experiencia que un aroma en sí mismo. Imagínate en el hermoso Sorrento mientras disfrutas de la vista al

The notes reflect her complexity, regality and warmth of this perfume THE HOUSE Founded by Marissa Zappas, a perfumer and anthropologist, Redamance aims to establish a more expansive space for olfactive design in the arts, intellectual life, and personal expression. Redamance goes beyond traditional narratives prevalent in fragrance advertising. Utilizing the power of scent, we channel unconventional women in history who were unapologetically themselves. Redamance is derived from the word “redamancy” which means “the act of loving in return”, and it is our intent to link women of the past to women today through the transportive art of perfumery. Each fragrance is an homage and olfactive portrait of an overlooked woman from history who truly owned her complexities. Marissa Zappas is an anthropologist turned perfumer. Her work explores the history of perfumery as it correlates to the history of cemeteries and how perfume acts as an extension of the body. Marissa worked at

A perfume that you'll connect in an intimate way with April Aromatics was founded by Tanja Bochnig in New York and has been based in Berlin since 2008. The line includes a selection of natural perfumes and is based on a holistic approach. The name of the label, April Aromatics, was inspired by the perfumer’s birth month. Born on 1st April, she particularly loves this time of year, when nature is gradually re-awakening from its winter slumber and the scent of promise is in the air. A PERSONAL NOTE FROM TANJA BOCHNIG. I started April Aromatics because I had a deep desire to create perfumes from pure extracts that not only smell good, but also create an inner well-being and noticeably lift our senses. The scents from April Aromatics are able to take the receptive into a world of poetry. April Aromatics perfumes are unique and of very high quality. The use of naturally pure ingredients whenever available and the particularly gentle processing make it possible to preserve the origin

Cheerful and energizing   A note from the Brand: "Feel a connection with an unknown & vibrant nature. A tropical odyssey going Deep inside nature" NOTES Cardamom, Juniper Berries, Pepper, Ginger, Magnolia, Frangipani, Dark Chocolate. REVIEW A tropical take on the spicy, woody, fresh aromatic genre with a fantastic fruity twist. An airy and transparent formula but with enough body and density at the same time. A superb and energizing cardamom note floats around the whole concoction mixed with heady sweet frangipani to end up resting in a extremely beautiful juniper berries and powdery, bitter dark chocolate base making it casual but sexy at the same time. The special texture provided by the chocolate mixed with the spices and the floral notes makes this scent an addictive piece.   Una versión tropical del género aromático picante, amaderado y fresco con un toque afrutado fantástico. Una fórmula aireada y transparente pero con suficiente cuerpo y densidad al

The contrast and the mixture of elements is what makes this concoction an intriguing, alluring and super elegant piece for the real fragrance lovers Ursa's story begins with the fragrant landscape that surrounds Lake Como in Italy, with pastures and forests along its shores. And reassuring, like the calm waters of Lake Como. NOTES Nutmeg, Elemí, Dried Fruits, Rum, Patchouli, Olibanum, Incense, Tobacco, Vetiver, Vanilla, Leather, Oud. REVIEW Earthy, damp and even organic opening where some may find a little bit of challenge if not familiar with the smell of real patchouli welcomes you to Ursa. Rum, dried fruits and nutmeg appears to balance the formula but never loosing the patchouli and the tobacco as the backbone and cornerstone of this artistic piece that exudes the highest quality. An addictive woody accord consisting of dry cedar, resins and oud supported by tobacco, makes an everlasting base. The contrast and the mixture of elements is what makes this concoction a

Beautiful, sophisticated, elegant and sexy scent NOTES Ginger, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Tobacco Leaf, Tonka Bean, Cloves, Star Anise, Vanilla, Cacao, Incense, Dried Fruits, Woodsy Notes, Tobacco. REVIEW Stunning sensual, rich and sultry concoction consisting in a heavy dose of well blended spices especially cinnamon and clove with star anise floating around, sweet, cherry rather tart and damp and dry mix of tobacco, a powdery and creamy heart of dried fruits, sweet tonka and woods, and a fluffy vanilla base wrapped in a smoky veil of soft incense conforms this sexy beast which reads as a delicious, warm, bitter and slightly sweet spiced tobacco scent on my skin. Very beautiful, sophisticated, elegant and sexy scent that will bewitch both the wearer and the ones around. Impresionante mezcla rica y sensual que consiste en una fuerte dosis de especias bien mezcladas, especialmente canela y clavo con anís estrellado flotando alrededor, dulce más bien como tarta y mezcla seca y húmeda

A sensual and opulent scent The fire of CHEVALIER DE LA NUIT is ignited by the smell of cloves, which in turn creates the distinctive heart of the fragrance. A spicy composition that also displays an energetic sharpness inspired by the freshness of eucalyptus. Its powdery facets are highlighted by iris and patchouli, refined by smoked vetiver. Fruits provide a dynamic, citrusy echo, while luscious sandalwood adds balsamic accents along with bourbon vanilla that sweetly savors the scent. NOTES Lemon, bitter orange, patchouli, Absolute Jasmine, Vetiver, Clove, Musk, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood, Vanilla. REVIEW A very intriguing classy and elegant fragrance based on a comforting mixture of ingredients where a spices and earthy patchouli opening with some bitter aspects gives pass to a very well balanced and rounded drydown with precious musks, vanilla, mossy eucalyptus and noble woods making this piece very sexy, warm, mysterious and smooth. A sensual and opulent scent and a fant

Fluffy sweet floriental Baccarat Rouge 540 is born from the encounter between Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Maison Baccarat. An eau de parfum celebrating the 250th anniversary of the famous crystal house. NOTES Jasmine, Saffron, Cedar Wood, Ambergris.  REVIEW Fluffy sweet floriental where a resinous aura mixed with a jasmine note creates a quite strange highly addictive sweet accord that rests on a bed of warm woods. It's elegant, sensual, sophisticated and it has a gourmand undertone that smells like flowers covered with cotton candy. Dulce y esponjoso floriental donde un aura resinosa mezclada con una nota de jazmín crea un acorde dulce muy adictivo bastante extraño que descansa sobre una cama de maderas cálidas. Es elegante, sensual, sofisticado y tiene un matiz goloso y comestible que huele a flores cubiertas de algodón de azúcar. Check my review on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B7dWe0eoz0V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link    

A super elegant piece A note from the Brand A woody, oriental fragrance that is sexy, passionate and evocative. It has been created for men and women with an intense appreciation of one another. The top notes start with sizzling citrus, complemented by pink pepper. The rich, sultry, exotic woody accords add intensity with the harmony of cedarwood, patchouli and sandalwood coming through in the base; all enhanced by our captivating Oud. All of our fragrances contain 100% organic Oud oil from sustainable sources. NOTES Pink Pepper, Lemon, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Sandalwood, 100% pure organic vintage Oud REVIEW A heavy dose of pink pepper with citric nuances on top gives pass to a woody and spicy heart composed of an addictive woody accord consisting of dry cedar, raw sandalwood and 100% certified organic agarwood supported by slightly earthy patchouli to make an everlasting base. Oud Rouge exudes the highest quality to be a breathtaking, intriguing, alluring and super elega

Flamenco is art, deep and folk art, simple and torn, hypnotic and fiery ... art in its purest form! As per Ramón Monegal,   Flamenco is art, deep and folk art, simple and torn, hypnotic and fiery ... art in its purest form! And art is the true and only luxury that I recognize "Flamenco" is my olfactory manifesto, my origin, my heritage ... it is the soul of Spain, a hallmark, cultural symbol and essence of the south. Intoxicating emotion interpreted in cante, guitar and dance, a feeling that I imagine present under the magnetic spell of a night in the Alhambra. Steeped in this feeling, my challenge to get closer to art is to make it transcend perfume: Like a fan, with a broad language and undulating ritual, it starts and shows its strength by intertwining cedar wood from the atlas and Mediterranean pine. Like a flower, it displays the joy of the orange blossom in Seville, the passion of the red rose in Damascus and the irresistible sensuality of the jasmine under the

  With Note di Colonia III, Acqua di Parma reinterprets one of the most famous acts of "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi Triumph, strength and heroic adventures are portrayed in the musical overture of the "Triumphal March", one of the most famous acts of Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida". Nota di Colonia III takes up the eternal and majestic feeling of the musical score, in the Solemn trombone notes resonate with Tangerine and Ginger chords, while violins and flutes take part in the celebration and dance to the virtuoso performance of Vetiver, Olibanum and Jasmine, while the base notes create an atmosphere sacred with the intense and warm essence of Myrrh, Rockrose and Tonka Bean. A refined, elegant and eternal olfactory creation inspired by the 'Triumphal March', a timeless piece of opera. Note di Colonia returns to the origins of Acqua di Parma even when choosing the original Cologne bottle, reinterpreting it in a unique scenographic form. The stoppe

A true masterpiece and an artistic icon of modern-chic perfumery   THE PERFUME The version of Dior Homme  in the form of Dior Homme Parfum appeared in 2014. S tarting with the Olivier Polge fragrance in 2005, the whole Dior Homme line was always a favorite of mine and I consider them the best designer line EVER. Bearing in mind that I refer to it only considering the three main characters of this line, Dior Homme, Dior HOmme Intense and Dior Homme Parfum as I never took much care about the others (Sport, Eau, etc.). I've been buying bottle pf Dior Homme since it first came out in 2005 when I can barely understand it in terms of artistic values but I simply adore the smell of the perfume and the uniqueness that it gave me moreover in my office where I was "the guy who smells good". When I used to pull off Dior Homme, the phrase always turned into "the guy who smells differently good". At that time, being a 20 years old guy wearing a powdery, lipsticky sc

An amazing chic, sensual and opulent scent that dances between the gourmand and balsamic territory THE PERFUME A note from the Brand: Found on the exotic islands of Madagascar, the Patchouli Nosy Be takes you through a journey of lush filled fields. Nosy Be an island just off the northwest coast of Madagascar, better known as “the scented island” with the intense Ylang Ylang aroma that fills the air that surrounds you. This essence is a demanding plant and the island of Nosy Be has mastered the skill of the constant growth and harvesting skills. For this blend, our desire was to emphasize the unique and natural characteristics of the Patchouli from Nosy Be. By infusing exceptional quality of spicy notes while dry wood notes compliment the bitter cocoa notes and rounded off with labdanum and exotic vanilla. This scent is the perfect marriage between floral and woodsy notes, each layered perfectly to create this aromatic dream. NOTES Lemon, Shinus Molle, Patchouli Nosy Be E

Welcome to the number 68 of Les Champs Elysees                                          Photo source: Internet. 1913, Guerlain moved his boutique to the Champs-Elysées, just a few hundred meters from his first factory. To celebrate the opening of his new boutique, Jacques Guerlain created Parfum des Champs-Elysées for his Parisian admirers. The frarance came in a magnificent turtle-shaped bottle in Baccarat crystal, a witty allusion to the exceedingly slow pace of construction. A century later, Guerlain continues to reinvent itself. The legendary address—68, avenue des Champs-Elysées—elegantly embodies French art de vivre. Artists and craftsmen of worldwide renown have redesigned this superb setting for a new century of beauty and passion, a new adventure for Guerlain. To celebrate this newest chapter in the epic story of Guerlain, Thierry Wasser has created Parfum du 68, taking inspiration from the very essence of the house’s identity. Made in Guerlain’s image, the fragrance, li

A perfume that will completely change your perception about how a floral perfume should be THE PERFUME If you’ve ever tried out a bunch of floral perfumes and said to yourself, nope, just not floral enough, then lets introduce you to Lost in Flowers. Called joy oil in India, the rare red champaca otto used in Lost in Flowers casts a strange, unearthly glow over the composition. It at first smells innocent, like fruit dipped in cream and wrapped in a clean, juicy shampoo aura. But then it is also smells musky and honeyed, in a way that’s more suggestive of intimacy. Gardenia lovers take note – this is Holy Grail material: creamy, salty, and with a bodacious meatiness that’s soulful without ever tripping over into bleu cheese territory. The astringent pop of saffron adds an undertone of leather and iodine, the tagetes a pungent, hay-like facet – colorful touches of Indian attar perfumery in an otherwise tropical picture. Thanks to these spicy, woody touches, and to the salinity of