Mini reviews

Mood Scent 4 Into The Woods – Our Last Mood Scent 4 Post!

It’s time for our monthly Mood Scent 4 post. Where Megan (Megan in St Maxime,) Samantha (I Scent You A Day) Portia (on A Bottled Rose) and I write about a different subject relating to perfume each month. This time we chose to write about woody fragrances.  But before I continue with my picks of woody perfumes I have some news for you: this will be our last Mood Scent 4 post!

Last Call For Mood Scent 4!

Megan started Mood Scent4 4,5 years ago and we have decided to discontinue this project recently for various reasons. Some of us are busy with other perfume related projects, others will be focusing on something different. It has been a very interesting, joyful time writing together and inspiring to read each other’s picks on the same perfume subject each month.

I hope you have learned  as much as I did from reading our different takes on perfume. I want to thank Samantha, Portia and Megan for our exceptional time together on this perfume journey. Although it feels like it’s time for something different, I am a bit sad that this project has ended and will miss writing together. 

April Aromatics Precious Woods – Tanja Bochnig 

April Aromatics featured several times on Megan’s and my posts as we are both a big fan of Tanja’s work. This time I chose Precious Woods for our Into The Woods theme as it invites us to take a walk in a forest.

Berlin based perfumer Tanja Bochnig was inspired to make this fragrance when she scented an Indian forest after the rain. I believe she succeeded very well in invoking the scent, image and experience of a forest walk. Wearing Precious Woods makes me feel very down to earth, grounded and calm. Looking at the notes this is not surprising as one of the main notes is sandalwood from India and New Caledonia. Sandalwood fragrance has been used by all Indian spiritual traditions (Brahmin, Buddhist and Hindu) to induce a calm state of mind. There is a certain intriguing funkiness to this fragrance too making it interesting.

Hiram Green Arbole Arbole – Hiram Green

‘Tree, tree
dry and green.

The girl with the pretty face
is out picking olives.
The wind, playboy of towers,
grabs her around the waist.’*

Arbole, Arbole was inspired by this beautiful poem from Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. This is only a small part of the poem as it is too long to include it completely.  Garcia Lorca is very dear to me as he was one of my mother’s favourite poets.

Arbole, Arbole as a fragrance is as warming as a coffee with brandy on a cold rainy autumn morning. It smells like biting into a dry honeyed patchouli filled dark chocolate with vanilla powder and some frankincense sprinkled on top. Arbole, arbole was love on first sniff and has remained a favourite especially when it’s colder weather. I love it’s rich honeyed quality which can be found in Hiram Greens Slow Dive as well.

Adam Levine For Her – Yann Vasnier – 

I was inspired to blind buy this fragrance by Portia, who reviewed Adam Levine For Her on a previous Mood Scent 4 post. Samantha reviewed it as well on her blog several years ago. It’s a good example that excellent  fragrances don’t have to cost a small fortune.

Adam Levine For Her was created by French perfumer Yann Vasnier (also from Tom Ford Plum Japonais, Arquiste Anima Dulcis, Divine,  Keiko Mecheri and many latest Jo Malone fragrances).  This fragrance is fit for a tropical beach party with its soft creamy sandalwood, light coconut touch and spicy top. There is a hairspray note wafting in the air too.

Adam Levine is a singer, I have to confess I had to Google him but it explains the interesting bottle. The perfume costs less than 10 euro for a 100 ml bottle so grab a bottle while you still can as it has been discontinued.

These are the three woody fragrances I picked.  Have a look on Samantha’s blog I Scent You A Day Megan’s blog  Megan in St. Maxime  and Portia on A Bottled Rose!

What are your favourite woody fragrances? Did you enjoy your time together with us from Mood Scent 4? Did you try fragrances inspired by our posts?

Disclosure: All fragrances mentioned in this article were paid by me. Bottles which are sold now, could be different from the ones on the photographs. All photographs were made by me as well and are an artistic expression.

 

 

Mood Scent 4 Golden Oldies

It is Mood Scent 4 Time again! Our monthly blogging project where Portia, (on A Bottled Rose) , Samantha  (I Scent You A Day) and Megan (Megan In St Maxime) write about a different subject linking perfume to mood or occasion. This time we picked Golden Oldies, those classic perfumes we hold fond memories of and have been with us for some time. Or those iconic old school classics which are well worth to try.

This time Samantha is with us again fortunately, although she is in her second lockdown in Wales as is Megan in France. Luckily we are not in lockdown in The Netherlands but things are fairly restricted and restaurants/cafes are closed. Portia is lucky to be more free to go outside, living in Australia. These are exceptional times for many of us to navigate. Back to Golden Oldies again, starting with iconic Jean Patou Joy.

Jean Patou Joy

‘Joy is a floral bouquet based on a very rich accord of two natural notes: jasmine and rose.’ Jean Patou

According to Jean Kerleo, former in house perfumer of Jean Patou and Osmoteque founder, Joy was a simple combination of jasmine and rose. It combined the richness of Bulgarian Rose and jasmine from Grasse. These two materials were used to create a very rich floral bouquet. Joy was launched in 1930, one year after the stock market crash of 1929 to become an icon in modern perfumery.

Two years after acquiring Jean Patou in 2018, LVMH has sadly decided to discontinue all Jean Patou fragrances. This is not very surprising. As Dior (which is part of the LVMH) launched a perfume in 2018 called Joy.  If you want to try Jean Patou Joy, 1000 or Sublime (another golden oldie love) grab a bottle from a discount store while you still can, otherwise you will have to visit the perfume archive Osmoteque in Versailles to smell one of these fragrances. I don’t know how these  ‘newer’ versions smell though and if they were reformulated to be a shadow of their former selves.

Personally I haven’t worn Joy as much as I have Jean Patou Sublime. Joy feels like wearing a very precious dark brown long mink coat, rich and luxurious to be enjoyed in the past but not from this era any more. Sublime however was created in the late eighties by Jean Kerleo and is reminiscent of this period when I was a student just living in Amsterdam. 

Hermes Caleche

Notes include aldehydes, bergamot, mandarin, orange blossom, jasmine, lily of the valley, rose, gardenia, iris, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, sandalwood, cedar, vetiver.

Named after a special type of light carriage, Hermes Caleche invokes a feeling of Parisian sophistication with classic silk dresses, expensive leather bags, beautiful handmade silk scarves and soft leather gloves. Created as an elegant easy to wear fragrance by Guy Robert, the newer Caleche which is now sold in the shops, has a become a more agressive aldehydic soap floral but still a refined fragrance. Soie de Caleche (the bottle on the photograph) was launched in 1992 and meant as a more easy to wear version to appeal to a younger audience. Both feel elegant and luxurious.  Caleche was launched in 1961. As a little side note: Kelly Caleche is a completely different fragrance from Hermes.


Puig Aqua Lavanda Colonia 

Notes include Lavender, Rosemary, Spike, Petitgrain, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Geranium, Musk, Tonka, Cedarwood and Moss

Aqua Lavanda (lavender water in Spanish) is very well known in Spain as many grew up with the soap bars and eau de cologne from this scent. Large plastic cologne bottles are sold in Spanish supermarkets (or online) for a song. Which doesn’t make the fragrance particularly attractive. One wouldn’t expect such a masterpiece to be sold at this price in these large plastic dishwasher like bottles. But no wonder Aqua Lavanda is such a fabulous fragrance. Aqua Lavanda was created by master perfumer Jean Carles! 

These are my 3 picks for Golden Oldies Perfumes. Have a look on Samantha’s blog I Scent You A Day Megan’s blog  Megan in St. Maxime  and Portia on A Bottled Rose, to read their choices too.

I Love To Hear From You
There have been some troubles with leaving comments before.  I hope you are able to leave your choice for Golden Oldies fragrances. Those fragrances you love to revisit from long gone era.

Disclosure: all fragrances were bought by me and all photographs were made by me as well. The two ads were found online.

Mood Scent 4 Joyful Spritzing!

It is Mood Scent 4 time again! Where Portia (now on A Bottled Rose), Sam (I Scent You A Day) Megan (Megan In Sainte Maxime) and I write about a joined subject each month linking fragrance to mood or occasion. This time we picked joyful spritzing!

For me joyful spritzing means, perfumes which always cheer me up. I chose 4 fragrances starting with a perfume full of joy, April Aromatics Ray of Light.

April Aromatics Ray Of Light

Notes: Lime, Lemon, Pink Grapefruit, Orange, Bergamot, Galbanum, Mint, Vetiver, Tobacco. Perfumer: Tanja Bochnig Year: 2014

Bright crisp green lime and sweet vibrant yellow lemon with bitter green bits reminiscent of the leaves of the lemon tree make this a very uplifting fragrance for those days when you need some encouragement. Ray of Light is an all natural cheerful fragrance made by Berlin based perfumer Tanja Bochnig.

Wearing Ray of Light is like hearing a dear friend whispering cheerful words in your ear on those days you need help to get things done or get in a much better mood. Pure joy in a perfume bottle.

L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons Eau de Toilette

Notes: Linden Blossom, Lemon Tree Blossom (Petit Grain Lemon), Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Tuberose Perfumer: Anne Flipo Year: 1999

This cheerful innocent floral bouquet of white orange, jasmine and tuberose blossoms with green and coconut facets never fails to lift my spirits. It is one of my favorite uplifting fragrances and I gladly use this Eau de Toilette on grey days to get me in a cheerful light mood again. La Chasse Aux Papillons means chasing butterflies in French, a joyful exquisite and suited name for this perfume.

Parfums Dusita Fleur de Lalita

NotesRose de mai, magnolia, jasmine, white lily, galbanum, ylang-ylang, ambrette, vanilla, sandalwood, tonka bean and ambergris Perfumer: Pissara Umavijani Year: 2018 

Fleur de Lalita makes you feel like a sweet teenage girl wearing a fluffy soft light pink short coat, tutu and sparkly tiara, giggling, joyous and feeling like a little princess. It is an absolutely stunning fragrance and a joy to wear, full of creamy tropical flowers, a light touch of coconut and warming smooth sandalwood. This fragrance had been on my wishlist for several years as it was an instant love and after using up several samples I finally bought a full bottle (my only one in this period!) during our “lockdown”.

Miller Harris Lumière Doree

NotesBergamot, Petit Grain Bigaradier, Orange Bigarade, Neroli Bigarade, Sambac Jasmine, Cashmere wood, Vetiver, Amber accord,  White Musks. Perfumer:  Mathieu Nardin Year: 2016

This cologne style neroli filled fragrance brightens the day with its Mediterranean flowers of jasmine, bitter orange and green bergamot citrus fruit. Lumière Doree transports me to joyful Spanish avenida’s full of small bitter orange trees filling up the air with their sunny luminous floral aroma and children loudly playing while smelling of Neroli cologne and clean soap.

Over To My Mood Scent 4 Pals
These are my 4 picks for joyfull spritzing! Have a look on Sam’s blog on I Scent You A Day, Megan’s  Megan in St. Maxime  and Portia on A Bottled Rose to read their picks and view  on this subject.

I Love To Hear From You
There have been some troubles with leaving comments before. I do hope you are able to leave your choices for a joyful perfume. I love to hear from you!

Disclosure: All photographs were made by Esperessence. All perfumes were bought by me as well. I was lucky to win the April Aromatics set years ago on a Facebook contest.