Top 10 Perfumes For Autumn 2023 – Sophisticated Scents
Persolaise In many aspects of etiquette, there’s a fine line between the casual and the inconsiderate. I suspect a fear that we’re veering too close to the latter was the guiding…
Creed Carmina, Akro Rise, Grandiflora Saskia and other reviews – 2023
It’s not often that the C-word is uttered on my YouTube channel, but in the interests of public service, I decided I had to share my thoughts on the new…
Dior J’Adore L’Or, Eris Delta Of Venus, L’Artisan Parfumeur Cuir Grenat and other reviews – 2023
Earlier this year, Dior gave us the first bona fide new creation from current in-house perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian (the unexpectedly divisive Dioriviera) and now he’s making his initial mark on…
Dior Diorella edt (Edmond Roudnitska; 1972) & Higher (Olivier Gillotin & Olivier Pescheux; 2001) vintage Reviews
Last year, a family-owned shop in northern Italy yielded a few vintage treasures (click here for my video on the goodies I bought there). And this summer, the town of…
Frederic Malle Heaven Can Wait Review – Jean-Claude Ellena; 2023
It is to his credit that Frederic Malle continues to make us wait a whole year between new releases: he could so easily have given in to the temptation to…
Hermes Un Jardin Apres La Mousson Review – Jean-Claude Ellena; 2008
Nothing lasts forever. Many years ago, the first time I got to meet and interview Jean-Claude Ellena, he said that one of the reasons he was proud to work for…
Lubin Akkad Review – Delphine Thierry; 2012
It’s very difficult for perfumers to say anything new about amber. With Guerlain Shalimar at one end of the chronological spectrum and Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan just about at the…
Escentric Molecules H01, Aesop Gloam, Juliette Has A Gun Lust For Sun and other reviews – 2023
It was a tale of contrasting landscapes over on YouTube the other day when I reviewed new releases from Aesop and Goldfield & Banks, as well as a Harrods exclusive…
Penhaligon’s Solaris, Les Indemodables Patchouli Noisette, L’Artisan Parfumeur A Fleur De Peche and other reviews – 2023
We went from peachy sunshine to nutty patchouli via citrusy basil in the latest episode of Love At First Scent, with reviews of new and new-ish releases from Les Indemodables,…
Essential Parfums Showcase Review – 2023
Essential Parfums have developed a reputation for offering high-quality compositions at reasonable prices. They’ve certainly turned to some heavy-hitters to create their wares: the presence of names such as Calice…
Top 10 Perfumes For Summer 2023 – The Scent Of Sincerity
I don’t like to think about the fact that today is the longest day of the year, because it means that from now on, the days are going to start…
Thameen Bohemian Infusion Review – Maurice Roucel & Alexandra Carlin; 2023
After Insignia, The Rose and Fanfare, Creative Director Christopher Chong asserts his own taste and style with what could be called more overt clarity in the new Thameen Bohemian Infusion,…
Christian Dior Dioriviera Review – Francis Kurkdjian; 2023
This release is a big deal. After all, it’s the first creation by the new in-house perfumer at one of the most prestigious and lucrative brands in the world. But…
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Media Cologne Forte Review – Francis Kurkdjian; 2023
Francis Kurkdjian has never concealed his love of scents that fall into the ‘understated, urban chic’ category. And the latest for his eponymous brand shows that his affection for this…
Top 10 Challenging Perfumes – Scents That Aren’t Always Easy To Pull Off
Things got a little bit whiffy in my virtual studio the other day… but in the most compelling way. Taking my cue from a suggestion made by one of you,…
Top 10 Best Leather Perfumes – Deserts, Cowboys & Angels
Things got personal over on YouTube the other day when I finally broadcast the video I’d been avoiding for years: my Top 10 (+1) best leather perfumes. Here’s a link…
Maison Crivelli Patchouli Magnetik (Quentin Bisch; 2022) & Oud Maracuja (Jordi Fernandez; 2023) Review
Quentin Bisch is running the risk of becoming overly associated with his love of Akigalawood (the weirdly sour, unbearably strident patchouli-esque material so beloved at Givaudan, the company for which…
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Nerolia Vetiver Forte & Harvest Review – Delphine Jelk; 2023
Why stick with one Aqua Allegoria when you can have three? That certainly seems to be the thinking over at Guerlain at the moment, because they’ve just added two variants…
Akro Bake, Diptyque Eau Nabati, Acqua Di Parma Arancia La Spugnatura and other reviews – 2023
The scent of gorgeous French patisseries was in the air during my recent YouTube review of the new Akro Bake, composed by Olivier Cresp. Here’s a link to the video,…
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist Review – The Favourites – Maurice Roucel; 1994
My memory of this may not be accurate, but I’m fairly certain that in a biography of the Pet Shop Boys, which I read a couple of decades ago, there…