Persolaise Serge Lutens Bois Roi D’Agalloche, Zurafa, Sidi Bel-Abbes, Tarab and Cracheuses De Flammes reviews (Christopher Sheldrake; 2015, 2020 and 2025)
– Reading between the lines, it would seem that Royaume is the brand’s update of the Section D’Or range, which launched in 2014 to loud protestations about its exorbitant price…
Born To Stand Out Black Creme, Hiram Green Ultra, Comme Des Garcons Monocle Syros and other reviews – 2025
For this year’s final review episode of Love At First Scent, I covered new releases from Comme Des Garcons and Zoologist, as well as Quentin Bisch’s much-hyped Black Creme for…
Coty Ambre Antique, Solferino showcase, Vranjes showcase and other reviews – 2025
My recent set of Love At First Scent broadcasts spanned the entire timeline of modern perfumery, from Fougere Royale via the 25th anniversary of Kenzo Flower to two brand new…
Tauer L’Air Du Desert Marocain Noir, Etat Libre D’Orange Above The Waves, BDK Impadia and other reviews – 2025
Please click on the link below to be taken to my Substack reviews of the following perfumes: BDK ImpadiaMontale Oud SapparotJeroboam BohaFerragamo Sublime LeatherTauer L’Air Du Desert Marocain Noir, Rose…
Candles, Cookbooks & A Fair Bit Of Perfume – Gift Recommendations For Christmas 2025
I don’t even want to think about how many (ie few) days are left until Christmas… but I know that one way or another, the day will be upon us…
Ask Me Anything To Mark 600 Episodes Of Love At First Scent
The other day I reached episode 600 of my Love At First Scent series, but as I didn’t want to devote any portion of that instalment to anything other than…
For The 600th Episode Of Love At First Scent – A Live Interview With Patricia De Nicolai
For the 600th episode of my Love At First Scent series, I was joined in the virtual studio by a very special guest: Patricia De Nicolai, founder of her eponymous…
Jovoy’s Francois Henin On Changing His Brand’s Look & Making New Perfume, Ha Long Bay
– We are under stress. We have many players selling stock. They are discounting. We don’t know where they got the product from. It could be on social networks, it…
Brioni Les Extraits, Chanel Pour Monsieur, L’Entropiste Ensang Noir and other reviews – 2025
Foxes, wolves and serpents — just three of the creatures that came up in my recent set of Love At First Scent episodes, during which I covered new releases from…
Scents For Classic Halloween Characters – Top 10 Perfumes For 2025
For this year’s Halloween list, I paired perfumes with some classic costume ideas, and enlisted a bit of visual assistance from Google Gemini. Here’s a link to the video: Top…
Spray & Tell – Scented Perfume Chat With Alice Du Parcq
In the first instalment of what will hopefully turn out to be a regular series, I was joined by Alice Du Parcq for a bit of Spray & Tell —…
Waiting For The Right Time – Christine Nagel On The Creation Of Hermes Barenia Intense
– Some perfumes arrive on the market not at the right time. I have a good example — Wrappings from Clinique. I love this perfume. But it arrived too early.…
Tauer Vanilla Absolue, Arquiste Nocturnality, Granado Apotecario and other reviews – 2025
There was a time when the word ‘Tauer’ was almost entirely synonymous with the idea of independent perfumery. Zurich-based Andy Tauer — a self-taught perfumer who started his brand by…
Hiram Green, Live Interview On The Launch Of Ultra
I was delighted to welcome self-taught, Holland-based perfumer Hiram Green into my virtual studio a few days ago. He discussed his latest release, Ultra — which he describes as channelling…
Creed Oud Zarian, Bon Parfumeur 403 Myrrh Shadow, Chambre 52 Soleil Tonka and other reviews – 2025
Please click on the link below to be taken to my Substack reviews of the following perfumes: Room 1015 Jasmine FreakStephane Humbert Lucas God Of FireMaison Mataha Printemps BlancBon Parfumeur…
The Black Narcissus & Persolaise On Chanel Antaeus
My friend Neil Chapman (of The Black Narcissus) and I recently indulged in a chat about a vintage bottle of Chanel Antaeus, but if you don’t mind, I won’t write…
Top 10 Perfumes For Autumn 2025 – Celebrating Simple Pleasures
Regular readers and viewers invariably tell me that autumn is when they enjoy pulling out the more baroque scents in their collections: the rich, Mitsouko-esque chypres, the darker florals, the…
Valerie & Remi Pulverail, Les Indemodables, Live Interview On The Launch Of Vanille Havane – Cuir Des Abysses
I never cease to be amazed by the stories behind the creation of some perfumery ingredients. The latest one to be brought to my attention is linked to a shipwreck…
Chanel Bleu L’Exclusif review – Olivier Polge; 2025
– Regular readers will know that I’m not what you’d call the world’s biggest fan of Bleu. I remain an admirer of Chanel. I believe they continue to give us…
Balenciaga 2025 releases, Nissaba Les Alpes, Prada Paradigme and other reviews – 2025
Five reviews in brief 9:21Le Dix 12:50Getaria 17:09Extra 23:10Muscara 27:07No Comment 31:17 A few years ago, brands followed the ‘why make one when you can make three’ strategy of perfume…