Spending hundreds of dollars on a bottle of perfume is nothing new to perfume aficionados, but what if that perfume turns out to be “bad quality?” By that, I mean it can have low projection, poor lasting power, a cheap bottle or just a note that ruins the whole composition. In fact, after sampling recently, a new “bad quality” category appeared in my mind: cheap-smelling. Among the classic Tom Fords and Armanis...

(photo via bebutterfly.ru and vi.sualize.us) The epitome of gourmandness, Gourmand Coquin has so many admirers out there that it is hard to believe that almost no one dislikes this perfume. Even though I dislike the name (and the message behind it: a woman-child at play), the scent itself is one of those perfumes that lead a life of their own. It is not that GC smells like...

Can another oud be fascinating? After so many have hit the market, is there anything out there that can still thrill? Can a watch company create a perfume that makes one say wow? Yes indeed. Chopard, the maker or such perfumes as Casmir and Wish, has come out with their own take on oud with their Oud Malaki and Rose Malaki. I have not tried the Rose Malaki but their Oud Malaki is divine. The opening...

What does a beautiful horse have to do with perfume? Unless it is Dior’s Leather Oud, which smells like a stable, the answer should be “nothing.” Especially when your perfume smells like syrupy cakes and cinnamon. (photo via Pintrest) Parfums de Marly is a brand that is not easy to learn about on the internet. There is not as much information about it as about other niche brands and their...

From everything I have been reading, there is no one who is not enthralled with Chanel’s Coromandel perfume. It seems everyone is captivated by the creamy patchouli and white chocolate of this classic composition. Not being a fan of Chanel perfumes, I did not venture into the Exclusifs after my brief sniffing of them in store. (photo via pddperfumedodia) Yet some days call for a lay-it-on-the-line...

The day is windy. A the green water of the creek slowly waves, the weak sunlight struggles to illuminate before the day is done. There are hardly any cars on the roads, nor in parking lots, making me wonder where everybody is. I wear my new sweater and slippers (gifts from my family) and finish yesterday’s pumpkin pie. Which perfume complements this mood? I choose Amber Mystique for its sweet spices....

All perfume lovers know the pleasure of extending one’s favorite scent through the infusion of bath and body product. Silky and buttery creams, soaps and shower gels carry fragrance and moisturize the skin, allowing scents to linger longer and envelope the wearer fully in a sensual cloud of scent. My favorites are hammam products because they come with strong scents I associate with the Middle East. (photo...

Smoking hookah (shisha, narguile, etc.) has become all the rage in America but of course it has been a staple in the Middle East for generations. The sweet tobacco can be customized with various flavors and having the smoke filtered through liquid creates an incredibly smooth smoking experience. (photo via healthxchange.com) When you walk into a room where...

(Photo via midnightpoesy) The cozy times have come. As the sweltering October heat finally left, Luckyscent created an amazing Fall sample pack that ushered in my favorite season. One of the offerings, and the major reason I ordered the pack, is "Russian Tea" by Masque Milano. In addition to lovely tea scents like L'Artisan's "Tea for Two" and CB I Hate Perfume's...

What does saffron smell like? For those that have eaten decadent Iranian puddings or even Indian chicken dishes, the smell of saffron is very subtle. It is unlike anything else: a bit sweet, musky and comforting. When choosing a saffron scent, one would have to pay attention to the most nuanced of smells. I have been on the lookout for a good saffron perfume for years, but have not found...

(photo via swordscollection.blogspot.com) For those that don't know, Yatagan is a type of Turkish sword as well as an excellent perfume. I would call it a unisex scent though it is obviously, and for good reason, targeted towards men. In the world of boring perfume releases, celebrity scents and vintage disappointments, there is nothing better than finding a "difficult" perfume in a sea of blandness. Now,...

Well, I've had the chance to compare the original, beloved version of Laura Biagiotti's Venezia with its 2011 reformulated version and I must say, I am not that disappointed. I've never compared an old version of a perfume with its reformulated cousin so I do not have experience in this field but the two Venezias are quite similar. However, there is no denying that the older version has something special...