MKramer
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Niche version of Prada L'Homme Intense
Ambre des Abysses by Houbigant.
Just as all their other fragrances, this one is just the same a masterpiece. Ambre des Abysses is a proper but sweet scent. For those of you that have seen Suits, I think this is a scent which Mr Harvey Specter could and would wear. The scent could definetly be worn to the office, but containing a bit of sexiness. And for me this would be one I would wear to the office, the fragrance reminds me a little of Prada L'Homme but niche. Which does not mean better! This fragrance is just less made to please the crowd. If you like Prada L'Homme or YSL Tuxedo - Le Vestiaire, definetly give this one a try!
The scent itself is exactly what the layers tell you. It opens great fresh with mint and orange blossom, I even smell a little bit of amber in here already. Then, ofcourse, come the middle and base notes. For me this fragrance is quite interesting, because the skin and clothing smell differs greatly. I find that extremely interesing about this fragrance, but unfortunately I do not know why or how that works... The scent on the skin keeps hanging at the heart, or middle notes with a fresh flowery patchouli-like smell, amazing. Then as we continue on this journey in the abysses, where the clothes do seem to reach, the leather, tonka bean and vanilla come forth greatly, this part of the scent seems a little bit like Tabac Nomad, but more proper, this could be worn to the office.
Ambre des Abysses. A great fragrance which has the best place as a daily or office scent, however I would not recommend this one to be worn in the summer, or above 20/25 degrees.
Just as all their other fragrances, this one is just the same a masterpiece. Ambre des Abysses is a proper but sweet scent. For those of you that have seen Suits, I think this is a scent which Mr Harvey Specter could and would wear. The scent could definetly be worn to the office, but containing a bit of sexiness. And for me this would be one I would wear to the office, the fragrance reminds me a little of Prada L'Homme but niche. Which does not mean better! This fragrance is just less made to please the crowd. If you like Prada L'Homme or YSL Tuxedo - Le Vestiaire, definetly give this one a try!
The scent itself is exactly what the layers tell you. It opens great fresh with mint and orange blossom, I even smell a little bit of amber in here already. Then, ofcourse, come the middle and base notes. For me this fragrance is quite interesting, because the skin and clothing smell differs greatly. I find that extremely interesing about this fragrance, but unfortunately I do not know why or how that works... The scent on the skin keeps hanging at the heart, or middle notes with a fresh flowery patchouli-like smell, amazing. Then as we continue on this journey in the abysses, where the clothes do seem to reach, the leather, tonka bean and vanilla come forth greatly, this part of the scent seems a little bit like Tabac Nomad, but more proper, this could be worn to the office.
Ambre des Abysses. A great fragrance which has the best place as a daily or office scent, however I would not recommend this one to be worn in the summer, or above 20/25 degrees.
A sophisticated office scent
Bois Mystique by House of Houbigant, aside from Duc de Vervins, I just cannot find bad fragrances by this house. It is amazing how a house can make such beautiful and amazing scents. I find that all of their scents are classic scents, meant or could be worn with a suit, or formal clothing.
In the opening of the fragrance I miss the pink pepper, or miss, I do not smell it, I like it however, that I do not smell the pink pepper. The neroli comes greatly forward in my opinion, and creates a versatile freshness. I have a tester of this fragrance, and what stood out to me is that Bois Mystique is less strong than the other fragrances, Tabac Nomad, Oud Or or Patchouli Sauvage, which is not nessecarily a bad thing of course. I think that it flatters this fragrance even more, because this fragrance is not meant to be a shouter. The sillage is for me around 30 to 40 centimeters which I think is great. Not all fragrances should have astronomical large sillages, depending on the fragrance on where to you will wear it, the sillage should be adjusted.
From what I smell, Bois Mystique could be worn to any occasion, just like the designer fragrances like Bleu de Chanel and Dior Sauvage. I sprayed Bleu de Chanel on other wrist than Bois Mystique and something very interesting happened. Bleu de Chanel came forward as sweeter than usual after I smelled Bois Mystique. Back to Bois Mystique itself, creamy, clean notes come forward with a hint of spices or wood. For me this fragrance would be one I would were to whatever, a fragrance I would put on if I do not know what to wear or just do not want to think about what I want to wear. It is a great fragrance, a great fragrance which is good at many if not all occasions, but not the best at all occasions. However this fragrance is one of the best office fragrances I know of, it leaves me speechless if I try to explain why. The only words that come to mind is that it is clean, creamy and soft.
Definetly a recommendation!!
In the opening of the fragrance I miss the pink pepper, or miss, I do not smell it, I like it however, that I do not smell the pink pepper. The neroli comes greatly forward in my opinion, and creates a versatile freshness. I have a tester of this fragrance, and what stood out to me is that Bois Mystique is less strong than the other fragrances, Tabac Nomad, Oud Or or Patchouli Sauvage, which is not nessecarily a bad thing of course. I think that it flatters this fragrance even more, because this fragrance is not meant to be a shouter. The sillage is for me around 30 to 40 centimeters which I think is great. Not all fragrances should have astronomical large sillages, depending on the fragrance on where to you will wear it, the sillage should be adjusted.
From what I smell, Bois Mystique could be worn to any occasion, just like the designer fragrances like Bleu de Chanel and Dior Sauvage. I sprayed Bleu de Chanel on other wrist than Bois Mystique and something very interesting happened. Bleu de Chanel came forward as sweeter than usual after I smelled Bois Mystique. Back to Bois Mystique itself, creamy, clean notes come forward with a hint of spices or wood. For me this fragrance would be one I would were to whatever, a fragrance I would put on if I do not know what to wear or just do not want to think about what I want to wear. It is a great fragrance, a great fragrance which is good at many if not all occasions, but not the best at all occasions. However this fragrance is one of the best office fragrances I know of, it leaves me speechless if I try to explain why. The only words that come to mind is that it is clean, creamy and soft.
Definetly a recommendation!!
Seemingly rosey
Another great fragrance by the the old Houbigant. This fragrance, part of the orientale collection has a conflicting scent. A great scent, the BEST oud scent I have smelled until now, which aren't a lot to be honest, but is unfortunately not my taste.
Oud or opens with rose, a lot of it, and dances with a bit of rasberry. With in the notes which create a thin smokescreen. The opening reminds me of a smokey rose, a rose which could have been held in the smoke of the fireplace for a short time. An amazing sweet smokey, other sweet than that horrid vaping pen sweetness.
After a while the sweetness which hits you at the start, starts to leave stage and goes to the side of the stage. After which the oud note takes over, aswell as some other notes which create a matte woodlike smell. It smells like an old smooth wooden plank in an old beautiful and stale house where you can see the dust laying around. The notes which create this smell, unfortunately I do know which these are. If I have to guess, maybe the other woods in the fragrance or the labdanum , cashmeran, ISO-E-Super, or saffron. The geranium does definetly play a role, the role of the smooth sweetness of the shelf.
I find this a classic masculine fragrance, which I think, because of the sweetness, has the best performance on a date, and could be worn to special occasions aswell.
However, this might come unexpected, but I would not wear this fragrance. Probably because of the oud. Oud is just not my note and therefore not my style, maybe later when I'm a bit older, but for me, an 18-year-old, I find this fragrance too grown-up - I think is the best word. Which does not mean that the scent is bad, the scent is great, it is just not my scent and I would not recommend this to any peers. I would definetly recommend this fragrance if you're thirty, fourty or older or if you're a great fan of oud!
Oud or opens with rose, a lot of it, and dances with a bit of rasberry. With in the notes which create a thin smokescreen. The opening reminds me of a smokey rose, a rose which could have been held in the smoke of the fireplace for a short time. An amazing sweet smokey, other sweet than that horrid vaping pen sweetness.
After a while the sweetness which hits you at the start, starts to leave stage and goes to the side of the stage. After which the oud note takes over, aswell as some other notes which create a matte woodlike smell. It smells like an old smooth wooden plank in an old beautiful and stale house where you can see the dust laying around. The notes which create this smell, unfortunately I do know which these are. If I have to guess, maybe the other woods in the fragrance or the labdanum , cashmeran, ISO-E-Super, or saffron. The geranium does definetly play a role, the role of the smooth sweetness of the shelf.
I find this a classic masculine fragrance, which I think, because of the sweetness, has the best performance on a date, and could be worn to special occasions aswell.
However, this might come unexpected, but I would not wear this fragrance. Probably because of the oud. Oud is just not my note and therefore not my style, maybe later when I'm a bit older, but for me, an 18-year-old, I find this fragrance too grown-up - I think is the best word. Which does not mean that the scent is bad, the scent is great, it is just not my scent and I would not recommend this to any peers. I would definetly recommend this fragrance if you're thirty, fourty or older or if you're a great fan of oud!
Patchouli Sauvage
Another amazing fragrance by Houbigant. I ordered a sample set which blew me away. The set contains seven fragrances, which are not just fragrances. But these fragrances, these fragrances that Houbigant creates, those are pieces of art. The day that I find a better fragrance house still has to come. Personally, I hope that day never comes.
Patchouli sauvage, an amazing spring and autumn fragrance which can be worn during summer and winter aswell. The scent is just breathtaking, just like Cologne Intense by Houbigant which is unfortunately discontinued. Patchouli Sauvage opens mostly with the pink pepper and grapefruit, after which I smell the patchouli and bergamot with some woodyness on the background. Despite the woodyness, the fragrance does not give off a warm scent, which makes it in my opinion more wearable during spring, summer and autumn time, than during winter time. The freshness, and greenness of the other notes are superior to the warmth of wood and tonka bean. If I had to guess, maybe 80/20, or 75/25.
I have worn the fragrances a few days in a row to test the sillage, and durability. However now that it is colder weather, I find that this fragrances suits warmer weather better. Think of 15-25, maybe 30 degrees. The durability of this fragrance is great, it sits for at least nine hours on the skin, I do not know after nine hours, because nine hours after spraying the perfume on my wrist I went to bed. The sillage is average, less than one meter, which in my opinion is the best for fragrances.
If you like fragrances which give off some green, earthy, maybe somewhat spicy smell. This fragrance is definetly something to try!! If you like the smell Hermes H24, especially Herbes Vives or the EDP, a designer fragrance which is more accesible in the stores. Then I think that you would really like the smell of this fragrance aswell, which makes it a great option if you are interested in niche fragrances!
Patchouli sauvage, an amazing spring and autumn fragrance which can be worn during summer and winter aswell. The scent is just breathtaking, just like Cologne Intense by Houbigant which is unfortunately discontinued. Patchouli Sauvage opens mostly with the pink pepper and grapefruit, after which I smell the patchouli and bergamot with some woodyness on the background. Despite the woodyness, the fragrance does not give off a warm scent, which makes it in my opinion more wearable during spring, summer and autumn time, than during winter time. The freshness, and greenness of the other notes are superior to the warmth of wood and tonka bean. If I had to guess, maybe 80/20, or 75/25.
I have worn the fragrances a few days in a row to test the sillage, and durability. However now that it is colder weather, I find that this fragrances suits warmer weather better. Think of 15-25, maybe 30 degrees. The durability of this fragrance is great, it sits for at least nine hours on the skin, I do not know after nine hours, because nine hours after spraying the perfume on my wrist I went to bed. The sillage is average, less than one meter, which in my opinion is the best for fragrances.
If you like fragrances which give off some green, earthy, maybe somewhat spicy smell. This fragrance is definetly something to try!! If you like the smell Hermes H24, especially Herbes Vives or the EDP, a designer fragrance which is more accesible in the stores. Then I think that you would really like the smell of this fragrance aswell, which makes it a great option if you are interested in niche fragrances!
Duc de Vervins
I got this fragrance as a 2mL or 2,5mL sample, not that the amount matters that much, with my Houbigant discovery set.
I think that the opening of Duc the Vervins is quite synthetic, quite fabricated. Not horrible, but just bad. The bergamot and lemon are for me hard to smell. However after a few minutes, when the middle notes come forward, the scent evolves. With lavender as the key note surrounded by, I think, rosemary, or in other words just greenish notes. Duc the Vervins becomes amazing, when I smell the fragrance I think of countryside in France. The countryside where I stand in the shade, underneath the trees on a gravel road. Where you are surrounded by rows and rows of lavender with no-one in sight, where you are alone with nature in a radius of 10, 20 kilometres. In short, an amazing smell.
However, every dream has an end. With one more pleasant than the other. This is ending is more ''the other'' ending. After 10-30 minutes the fragrance notes become unfortunatly, very, very synthetic again. After which, about 1-3 hours later, dissapears from my skin. The short time the fragrance is on my skin could be explained by the fact that the sample does not have a spray, but some sort of stick. If the scent stayed good, and did not become synthetic, my rating would undoubtly be higher. The time when the fragrance smells so good is unfortunatly too short, because, in my opinion, if a fragrance smells synthetic, even for a minute, the fragrance smells synthetic for too long. Fragrances should smell like they are natural, not like they are from a factory.
I think that Hermes H24 edp or herbes vives, House of Houbigant Cologne Intense (Unfortunately discontinued) or patchouli sauvage are great alternatives, and I think better than this fragrance. Yes, some people may say, Hermes is designer and I do not want a designer fragrance. I hear you, I understand you. However this designer fragrance, especially H24 Herbes Vives, is so, so much different from other designer fragrances that for me, the fragrance is not considered designer. However it is still Hermes.
I think that the opening of Duc the Vervins is quite synthetic, quite fabricated. Not horrible, but just bad. The bergamot and lemon are for me hard to smell. However after a few minutes, when the middle notes come forward, the scent evolves. With lavender as the key note surrounded by, I think, rosemary, or in other words just greenish notes. Duc the Vervins becomes amazing, when I smell the fragrance I think of countryside in France. The countryside where I stand in the shade, underneath the trees on a gravel road. Where you are surrounded by rows and rows of lavender with no-one in sight, where you are alone with nature in a radius of 10, 20 kilometres. In short, an amazing smell.
However, every dream has an end. With one more pleasant than the other. This is ending is more ''the other'' ending. After 10-30 minutes the fragrance notes become unfortunatly, very, very synthetic again. After which, about 1-3 hours later, dissapears from my skin. The short time the fragrance is on my skin could be explained by the fact that the sample does not have a spray, but some sort of stick. If the scent stayed good, and did not become synthetic, my rating would undoubtly be higher. The time when the fragrance smells so good is unfortunatly too short, because, in my opinion, if a fragrance smells synthetic, even for a minute, the fragrance smells synthetic for too long. Fragrances should smell like they are natural, not like they are from a factory.
I think that Hermes H24 edp or herbes vives, House of Houbigant Cologne Intense (Unfortunately discontinued) or patchouli sauvage are great alternatives, and I think better than this fragrance. Yes, some people may say, Hermes is designer and I do not want a designer fragrance. I hear you, I understand you. However this designer fragrance, especially H24 Herbes Vives, is so, so much different from other designer fragrances that for me, the fragrance is not considered designer. However it is still Hermes.
