Here’s the second part of my compilation of Twitter mini-reviews published between July and September 2014.
Cologne from Etat Libre D’Orange (Alexandra Kosinski; 2014)*
Pays homage to Mugler’s Cologne. Citruses processed through a near-apocalyptic Steam Punk factory. Cogs and sprockets clatter and clang. Calcium fizzes. The female robot from Metropolis would wear this. Somehow, very ‘right’ for ELDO.
L’Etrog Acqua from Arquiste (Rodrigo Flores-Roux; 2014)*
Photo-real, finely-grated, tart lime zest segues into dewy floral and well-judged musk drydown. Lovely, happy work.
Cold, dry iris followed by fruity drydown of La Petite Robe Noire. The two halves don’t quite see eye to eye.
Beyond Rose from Clinique (2014)*
Probably the weakest of the Lauder companies’ ‘Arabian’ roses. Closer to harsh detergents than to delicate petals.
Pharrell Williams Girl from Comme Des Garçons (Antoine Lie; 2014)*
Surprisingly quiet: subtle iris + violet on a whisper of cedar. A demure little thing.
Orchidee Terrible from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
Overly aldehydic top placed upon excessively soapy, musky base. What can I say? Yes, it is terrible.
Violet Disguise from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
Awful marine violet with a gag-inducing melon note. Couldn’t be more sickly or depressing.
The Cobra And The Canary from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
Striking opening (rosy, Dettol-doused leather jacket on fire) leads to unengaging tannery note.
Falling Into The Sea from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
More like ‘Falling Into The Febreze Aisle At Asda’. Horribly synthetic lychee. Air-freshener hell.
The Soft Lawn from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
Melon-scented liquid soap poured onto freshly-shaved grass. Then comes an aqueous vetivert. Nasty stuff.
Cape Heartache from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer: 2013)*
Supposedly contains notes of “old growth” & “mountain fog”. I’d say it’s a dull, flat, sweet, woody pine.
Bull’s Blood from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
At least this one’s brave. First I thought it’d be a winner: truly shocking leather note over dark blood. Then it became fishier and more putrid, until I couldn’t wait to scrape it off. Still: it has balls. It can just keep them away from me.
Bull’s Blood from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2012)*
At least this one’s brave. First I thought it’d be a winner: truly shocking leather note over dark blood. Then it became fishier and more putrid, until I couldn’t wait to scrape it off. Still: it has balls. It can just keep them away from me.
Memoirs Of A Trespasser from Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer; 2013)*
An ice cream cone laced with peppery citrus zest segues into uninspiring vanillic drydown.
Persolaise
* sample provided by brand
** sample obtained by the author
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I have to say my experiences with Imaginary Authors seem to mirror yours.
Kathy, thanks for taking the time to write. I'm told the brand has its fans… but I guess you and I don't count ourselves amongst them!
I've mostly only seen good things about Imaginary Authors – but to be fair I feel like you mostly only see positive reviews. It's nice to see some realism.
Sun Mi, thanks for your comment. I know lots of people feel very strongly about whether negative reviews should or shouldn't be published. Speaking for myself, this blog has always reflected the full range of my responses to perfumes. I have always published negative reviews and, the way things stand at the moment, I intend to continue to do so.
Coming to this review almost ten years too late, but had to comment as these one-liners made me laugh out loud! Can’t say I agree with all of them, as I love IA’s Cobra and Canary and M.O.T. But we all have our own tastes!
It’s never too late. Thanks very much for reading and for writing.