Category: A – F
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Portrait of a Lady for Frederic Malle
This review, as with all reviews really, is dedicated to Connie. In one respect, she is my source for effortless intellectual rigour, but on the other hand, she keeps me in check. My rock, my weight, and my inspiration – I wouldn’t be in this position without you. I thank-you…
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N°5 by Chanel
Note: The following history/review discusses the original Extrait de Parfum (1921) of No. 5. No one wore N°5 in my family, so a lot of this is a new experience for me. It’s not that any mothers or aunts in the family couldn’t wear it, it’s just that a particular register is demanded…
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Allure Homme Sport by Chanel
Allure Homme Sport is the scent of the sea smelled days later on a towel. This towel has been used multiple times and has been used to wipe off sweat, a saline body after a dip in the ocean, and then finally used to towel dry hair washed with citric shampoos. Allure…
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Antaeus by Chanel
When one thinks of the 1980s it is impossible not the think of powerhouse clothing and smells. Strong shoulders, oversized lapels and popped collars for men, with women’s clothing somewhat luridly mimicking that trend. Pagoda shoulders went oversized as it translated from men’s to women’s clothing into an almost bulbous state.…
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French Lover for Frederic Malle (Editions De Parfums)
Sometimes I surprise myself. Often days (‘fragrant outings’ I call them) can be filled with myself walking around with a pocket-sized leather notebook in hand and a fountain pen filled my favourite blue-black ink going around and smelling fragrances and promptly taking notes. This occurred the other day when I…
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Fahrenheit Absolute by Dior
Let’s talk about movies. I tend to avoid horror movies, partially due to the fact that cheap scares and cheesy slashers do nothing for me. I like old movies, and especially Hitchcock films, with North by Northwest being an absolute favourite of mine. However, horror texts with allegorical messages, supernatural…
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J’adore (EdT) by Dior
Yeah, I get it. Florals; flowers. It’s not that the advertisement for a fragrance should mean anything (well, maybe anything other than the Neroli Portofino advertisement for Tom Ford), but the golden coloured Charlize Theron, regardless of all that razzle dazzle attire and hair makes me instantly either scour other…
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Opus VI by Amouage
I thoroughly enjoy the idea behind the Opus series, as following the footsteps of an adventure is always fun. The Opus series, or ‘The Library Collection’ represents a tome of memories; and all importantly a headstrong intellectual exercise. I particularly love houses that do this. Frederic Malle’s ‘Editions de Parfums’…
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Dans Tes Bras for Frederic Malle (Editions De Parfums)
Dans Tes Bras hit me like a train. The perfume is so intimate – so venerable and so sexy. Maurice Roucel, the perfumer responsible for this fragrance, reached staggering success with his prior perfume Musc Ravageur, a musky, yet-not-so musky fragrance that exudes sinful and carnal fragrant qualities without shame.…
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Volubilis by Bruno Acampora & Menthe Fraiche by Heeley Paris
In Jean-Claude Ellena’s book “The Diary of a Nose: A Year in the Life of a Parfumeur”, readers delve into the thoughts of Jean-Claude for a year. Jean-Claude writes like a French Yoda; and his approach to perfumery and life is philosophical. With great benevolence and a headstrong tone Jean-Claude…
Olfactics 