Notes, Blitz Reviews

I've been trying on samples like a madwoman this week. Unfortunately, I've also been swamped with readings and classes and Impending Doom (no wait, I meant finals...in a month). So unfortunately, all I can do for right now is something akin to Bittergrace's one-sentence reviews with maybe a tenth of the wit...

Genie in a Bottle (Trance Essence) Beautiful packaging, beautiful concept. Janna Sheehan's lovely. I have this in the fragrance oil, and it's dense and sweet. Vanilla/bubblegum on top of incense, like an early Christina Aguilera rolling around in a headshop. I don't get as much frankincense as I'd like, but this scratches an itch for me for some reason.

Brandy (Brandy Parfums) I'm thinking of purchasing Brandy for a friend who loves the scent of apples but dislikes the Jolly Rancher-characterization green apple scents so often have. Brandy isn't -quite- as tart as your normal green apple scent, it's more rounded. I was infatuated with the top notes for a while, but something about Brandy keeps me from -loving- it. It's sweet, peachy-appley-fruity at first, but the 'herbaceous' heart promised never becomes herby enough for me. Drydown's too sweet on my skin, too.

White Patchouli (Tom Ford) Not for me. Nice, classic Tom Ford, but not for me. Will have to do longer review. Still sorting out feelings about this one.

Eleganza Luminosa (Linari) Overwhelming. Patchouli. Will have to resniff and re-review.

Sweet Lime and Cedar (Jo Malone) Scrubber. Was there supposed to be pandanus leaf in here? I grew up with the scent of that in teas and rice, and that note is nowhere to be found. Pleasant enough, but I found it slightly too masculine in feel for my taste (when have I ever cared about that? apparently I do in this instance...). Would like more cedar.

French Clary Sage-Daytime (Lisa Hoffman Variations) Got deluxe sample from Bergdorf's. Very light fragrance oil. Fragrances come in sets of four--different concentrations for different times of day (Morning, Daytime, Evening, Bed Time). Understandably herbal. Has 'linen and cotton' accords. To me, that smells like clean laundry in the sun. If that's what they intended, they succeeded. Dries down to beautiful skin scent. It's not groundbreaking, or flight-inducing, or dramatic. But it's lovely. Very happy with it. Like it very much...but not sure I can justify the cost ($150!). You can buy a MONTALE AOUD in the small 50ml bottle for that price!!! It's halfway to an Amouage bottle!!!

Vetiver Oriental

Holy allergic reaction, Batman!

Vetiver Oriental, as it turns out, does not like me. I'm afraid the feeling is mutual. Within minutes--minutes!--of application on skin, I've got Rash. Now, I've had allergic reactions from perfume for a while now, and while it's an unfortunate condition for a perfume-o-holic, I've learned how to deal (spraying on clothes, rotating spray zones, etc. etc.). Is it oakmoss?? It might be oakmoss. I've worn oakmoss before but haven't had anything so spectacularly itchy. But hey, this is an individual problem, and it doesn't affect how the perfume smells, now, does it?

I wish I could like this. Luckyscent's descriptions are always so nice.

A Palais Royal exclusive, released for export for a limited time only, Vetiver Oriental is a completely unique interpretation of vetiver, as original as we came to expect from Lutens. Rich and striking, Vetiver Oriental enthralls us with its luxuriously balsamic accents of benzoin and labdanum. Moving from the brighter, more aromatic vetiver of the top notes, highlighted by the greens and the earthy chilliness of iris, the fragrance darkens considerably. The heart is a nocturnal, sultry brew of spicy gaiac wood and vetiver, a deep, exceptionally luxurious accord, which underscores the velvety depth of the vetiver by including a chocolate note. The union of the earthy, resinous notes and the dark, bitter chocolate is breathtakingly beautiful. Enriched further by the opulent base notes of soft musk, golden amber, sweet sandalwood and warm, silky-smooth labdanum, the scent wows us with its exceptional luxuriousness, its mysterious beauty and proves once and for all that where the woody oriental perfumes are concerned, Lutens has no equals.

Wahh. I smell...powder. Vetivery-bitter-ish oakmoss-ish powder. An iris-based, headache inducing powder. 15 minutes into application, I'm developing some sweetness.

I'm sorry, I can't wait for this to dry down any more...

Helg, I don't know if you'll read this, but I wish this review on Vetiver Oriental was half as eloquent as yours. As it is, I'm just sharing my real-time reaction.

Must...Scrub...Now...

*runs for Advil, Cortisone 10, and soap...*

PS: NY sniffapalooza last weekend huge success in re-fanaticizing me in perfume...writing reviews for Raphaella...