Cartier Declaration review – The Favourites – Jean-Claude Ellena; 1998
Persolaise — Back in the 80s, in the UAE, a soap was launched onto the market. Little did we know that it came from a brand that had actually been established…
perfume review
Guerlain Shalimar Millesime Jasmin review – Delphine Jelk; 2024
On paper, the idea of a jasmine-inflected Shalimar promises something absolutely terrific — not only would it emphasise the 1925 scent’s floral, animalic aspects, but it would also make sense…
Hermes Barenia, Le Labo Coriandre 39 and other City Exclusives reviews – 2024
As though determined to send us fragrance nerds into fits of apoplexy, Hermes are calling their latest release, Barenia, their very first chypre. Yes, you may well gasp. But dubious…
Guerlain Patchouli Paris, Diptyque Les Essences and Jo Malone London Hinoki & Cedarwood reviews – 2024
Japan, France and a coral reef at the bottom of an ocean were just three of our ports of call in a recent session of Love At First Scent, in…
Serge Lutens Point Du Jour, Penhaligon’s The Dandy, Akro Smile and other reviews – 2024
Given that Love At First Scent has been off the air for several weeks, it was perhaps appropriate that the first post-summer review was of a scent inspired by daybreak:…
Born To Stand Out Showcase Review – various perfumers; 2024
– It’s difficult not to be suspicious about a brand that calls itself Born To Stand Out (sorry, I refuse to remove the spaces between the words). It carries more…
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Review – The Favourites – Christopher Sheldrake; 1993
— I’m pretty sure our first encounter was at a perfumery in Nice. It was part of a large Lutens display — an austere assembly of those slim, rectangular bottles,…
Jo Malone London Orange Marmalade review – Marie Salamagne; 2021/2024
— On paper, the scent sounds as though it should be one of the company’s more likeable releases. The website blurb talks of orange peel simmering on a stove and…
Louis Vuitton Lovers, Les Indemodables Oranger Sirocco, Arquiste A Grove By The Sea and other reviews – 2024
We travelled all the way from North Africa to Croatia and a couple of distant constellations in a recent episode of Love At First Scent – via a stop-off at…
Top 10 Classic Eaux De Cologne – The Perfect Pick-Me-Up
It may be the oldest perfumery genre in existence, but it’s taken me until now to present my list of the Top 10 best eaux de cologne, for reasons which…
Crivelli Cuir Infrarouge, Parfum D’Empire Un Bel Amour D’Ete, Buly Jardins Francais and other reviews – 2024
From late-night clubs to herbal gardens via steamy summer trysts — all sorts of carnal pleasures were on offer during my recent session of Love At First Scent episodes, in…
Celine Zouzou, Acqua Di Parma Oud & Zagara, Piguet A’Lombre, Noyz, Maison Louis Marie and other reviews – 2024
A fresh take on Fracas. Yet another oud. And the debut of a self-proclaimed ‘disruptor’ brand. Just three of the subjects of some recent YouTube broadcasts, the links to which…
Coty Infiniment review – various perfumers; 2024
— My first encounter with this much-hyped range was at a launch event in London last year. As far as these shindigs go, it was one of the less easily…
Montblanc Collection, L’Artisan Parfumeur Il Etait Un Bois, Jo Malone London Cypress & Grapevine reviews – 2024
In an attempt to lend their image a bit of rough, Jo Malone London have hired Tom Hardy as the face of their Cypress & Grapevine cologne (credited to Sophie…
Charlotte Tilbury Perfume Collection, Acqua Di Parma Mandarino Di Sicilia, Ormonde Jayne Vanille Des Afriques and other reviews – 2024
Trust Charlotte Tilbury to come up with perfume names like More Sex, Cosmic Power and Love Frequency… and trust her to make the scents more interesting than they have any…
Thoughts On Frederic Malle Leaving His Own Brand — And Reviews Of Some Of His Classic Scents
— The speculators I alluded to above are theorising about all manner of likely (and less likely) reasons and scenarios. Take your pick from whichever of the following you fancy:…
Akro Infuse, Rendez-Vous, Parfum D’Empire showcase and other reviews – 2024
An unusual cup of tea was on offer in a recent episode of Love At First Scent, in the form of the new Akro Infuse (Olivier Cresp). In the same…
Hiram Green Philtre, Puente Virescence, Parfums De Marly Perseus and other reviews – 2024
One YouTube broadcast will never be sufficient to discuss everything there is to say about the increasingly thorny and emotive issue of perfume prices, but I did my best to…
Tom Ford Vanilla Sex review – Nathalie Gracia-Cetto; 2023
– Upon being presented with a blotter doused in Tom Ford Vanilla Sex, the correct response is to recoil in confusion. I am delighted to report that this was precisely…
Marc-Antoine Barrois Tilia (Quentin Bisch; 2024), Armani Blanc Kogane (Benoist Lapouza; 2023) and Noir Kogane (Sophie Labbe; 2023) reviews
Marc-Antoine Barrois and perfumer Quentin Bisch have added a new scent to their astronomically inspired collection: it’s called Tilia and it marks something of a departure from their usual style.…