Log in

Create Account Forgot your Password?
huangw

huangw

Reviews
1 - 5 by 6
huangw 1 month ago 1
Leather, incense, and raspberry
Eau Rihla Eau de Parfum was one of the few fragrances I sampled from Diptyque (hoping to change that someday).

The fruity and floral top notes give this fragrance a feminine feel that I didn't immediately feel comfortable wearing. But when the top notes start to fade, there is this wonderful incense-like scent that lingers forever. I know it's described as leather, but to me I can smell only the familiarity of incense.

I was reminded of Eau Rihla Eau de Parfum today after trying out Saint Honoré. They share that common incense-like base.
0 Comments
Cardamom, Cumin, Saffron
Okay, I definitely do not know what cianide smells like. I know what coffee smells like, and I know what rum smells like. And while Black Phantom - Memento Mori may be reminiscent of their "darkness", I can't say they have the same scent.

Black Phantom - Memento Mori is immensely dark and it's difficult to place the scents that bombard your nose. I happened upon another fragrance called "Crème Ébène (Eau de Parfum) | Nicolaï" and I was surprised it had a similar scent to Killian! (huh, strange) And it lists Cardamom, Cumin, and Saffron as the top notes. I grabbed a bunch from the pantry, and low and behold, it really was the cardamom... the caradamom brings the same heavy darkness to "Crème Ébène (Eau de Parfum) | Nicolaï" that you find in Black Phantom - Memento Mori.

I love them both! Even if I might never wear them outside. And okay, maybe it does smell a little like cappuccino .
0 Comments
huangw 2 months ago 2
Short-lived Cola
Short-lived lime with only a hint of cola, and the dry down doesn't remind me of cola at all. The first hour is great, but it just gets steadily worse, and by the end, you kind of want to replace it with something else (and NOT reapply it). For other fragrances with the cola profile, I recommend to try Eau d'Été, much heavier on the lime.
0 Comments
Boozy amber
Unfortunately, I feel obligated to talk about Kismet Magic's status as a clone of Angel's Share.

Kismet Magic may claim to share the same notes as Angel's Share, but it is NOT a clone. Angel's Share has a strong plum top note that is not present in Kismet Magic. The drydowns are comparatively similar and you may be able to confuse yourself if you attempt to compare the two side by side, but they are not identical.

The heart of kismet angel will remind you of any number of amber-colored hard liquors. There is a strong alcoholic "bite" when you first spray. Any hint of vanilla, cinnamon, or other notes lie in the shadow of the heart's boozy smell.

Atomizer on the bottle is really weak. Longevity is quite good; if you get any on your clothes, it will stay there.
1 Comment
Ylang-ylang all the way down
If you enjoy the scent of Ylang-ylang flowers, you will love this one. The top notes are barely present. Base notes may make it through to your nose as a skin scent.

Penhaligon's solaris is no substitute for fresh ylang-ylang flowers, but it is a fantastic placeholder. The flower itself favors hot and humid climates, so being able to sample this scent during the winter season is a real treat.
0 Comments
1 - 5 by 6