Frederic Malle Contre-Jour review – Annick Menardo; 2026
Persolaise – For years, the arrival of a Frederic Malle perfume has been a cue for a total nerd-fest. But the brand’s latest release, Contre-Jour, pushes the opportunities for geekery to…
unisex
Tom Ford Soleil Neige, BDK Vanille Caviar, Nez 1+1 Ansongo and other reviews – 2026
We’re trying something different. For the foreseeable future, the usual post-video updates will appear not here, but on my Substack. However, they will NOT be behind a paywall and you…
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…
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…
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…
Parfum D’Empire Madagascar Le Baume Vanille, Diptyque Lazulio, Le Labo Osmanthus 19 and other reviews – 2025
Osmanthus 19 4:10Eucalyptus 20 15:20 One of the few enjoyable things about summer ending is that it means I get to resume my YouTube broadcasts and my interactions with all…
L’Entropiste perfume showcase review – Bertrand Duchaufour; 2025
– A few years ago, the main trend in the perfume industry was the creation of high-end, exclusive (read: expensively-priced) ranges from established brands: Chanel’s Exclusifs, Dior’s Collection Privee, Hermes’…
Christian Dior Bois Talisman review – Francis Kurkdjian; 2025
– It all seems to have gone a bit topsy turvy in the world of Captain Kurk. His latest version of Dior Homme was a pleasant surprise, displaying a real…
Acqua Di Parma La Riserva, Davidoff Cool Elixir, Peosym Mithai and other reviews – 2025
Indian sweets, Italian oranges… and oud buried at the bottom of the ocean. Just three of the globe-hopping delights on offer in a recent episode of Love At First Scent,…
Eveilleur and Ascetic Aesthete showcase reviews – 2025
It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been doing this for — I always love discovering new brands. So, the other day, during a Love At First Scent session, I was…
Scented Kylie – Perfumes For Her 10 Best Songs
Kylie Minogue has long maintained an image as one of pop music’s most fun-loving characters, so I suspect she would have approved of a recent episode of Love At First…
Chanel Chance Eau Splendide, Serge Lutens Le Perce-Vent, Puente Aurora and other reviews – 2025
Chanel’s Chance range – the most insouciant in its portfolio – welcomed a new member a few weeks ago: the purple-hued Eau Splendide. I reviewed it in a recent set…
Guerlain Ambre Samar, Marc-Antoine Barrois Aldebaran, Spoturno showcase and other reviews – 2025
Regular readers will know that I don’t consider a perfume’s ability to attract compliments to be especially important; it’s not a factor I think about when deciding what to wear.…
Thomas De Monaco showcase review
– Amongst the circles inhabited by people who read posts like this one, the words ‘retro’ and ‘vintage’ tend to be used as compliments. A perfume is praised if it…
Guerlain Peche Mirage review – Delphine Jelk; 2024
– The link between peach and Guerlain may not be obvious, but nonetheless, it’s important. One of the house’s most celebrated scents, indeed the perfume many consider to be the…
Bohoboco Polish Potatoes and Magic Mushrooms reviews – 2024
– It’s probably fair to say that the Polish brand Bohoboco is going through something of an identity crisis. Launched in 2009 by Michał Gilbert Lach and Kamil Owczarek, it…
Hermes Terre D’Hermes eau de parfum intense, Creed Eladaria, Akro Breathe and Hiram Green showcase reviews – 2025
From the molten core of the earth to the lung-filling openness of the sea — we covered a wide range of territories in my recent set of Love At First…
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…