Déclaration by Cartier was created in 1998 by renowned master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena. The French nose also created most recently Terre d'Hermès and Paprika Brasil which show the development of his art in the direction of minimalism. Top notes for Déclaration are bergamot, coriander, mandarin, artemisia, neroli. Heart notes are cardamom, pepper, jasmine, cumin, orris. Base notes are cedar, vetiver, leather, and amber....

Continue reading "Déclaration by Cartier {Perfume Review & Musings} {Men's Cologne of the Week}" »

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

From Lithuania comes a new eponymous fragrance by designer Juozas Statkevicius, an eau de parfum a priori exotic, mysterious, and as it turns out deeply contemplative and sensual. This perfume so moved me that it made me experience for the first time as provoked by a perfume and in spite of myself a knot of emotion in my throat. I do not understand the effect of the fragrance completely but I will attempt to describe it.

But first some context. Juozas Statkevicius is known as a provocative and innovative designer from Vilnius, Lithuania. He made his fashion debut in Paris in 2002 with a collection of unconventional designs which brought him overnight recognition. There was his shawl with a pillow sewn in it. A model wore arm bracelets representing human bones in black and silver. All on the catwalk wore makeup that included some drops of fake blood dripping on their faces....

Continue reading "Juozas Statkevicius Eau de Parfum {Perfume Review & Musings}" »

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

If you have ever wondered what is the best way to apply perfume onto your skin please go read my response to Gretchen on the Beauty Hatchery as well as those of other writers....

Continue reading "To Rub or Not to Rub: I Say Spray {Fragrant Reading}" »

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Exquisite, exquisite is the word to describe Jardins de Bagatelle. I was curious to test yet another one of the Guerlains in an eau de toilette version as they are in general much decried amongst perfumistas. Seeing this one in a package sent from France I decided to give it a go.

Jardins de Bagatelle was created in 1983 by Jean-Paul Guerlain and is described as a floral woodsy fragrance, a particularly apt description for the eau de toilette version which is indeed on the woodsy side. According to Jan Moran in Fabulous Fragrances II, top notes are violet, bergamot, aldehydes, citron. Heart notes are orange blossom, tuberose, gardenia, magnolia, narcissus, orchid, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and muguet. Base notes are musk, cedarwood, vetiver, and patchouli; the perfume also most certainly contains orris....

Continue reading "Jardins de Bagatelle Eau de Toilette by Guerlain {Perfume Short - Express Perfume Review}" »

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

This is a pleasant surprise; Ruban D'Orange récolte d'hiver by L'Occitane (Orange Ribbon winter harvest) is better than what I expected and full-bottle worthy. The perfume, with its name suggestive to me also of a treat, a confiserie - I somehow picture a guimauve ribbon - arrives in the midst of our fall days to appeal to our sense of contrast and tempt us with its sunny thirst-quenching notes. This summery aspect is not the end of the story however for it subsides in due course as the perfume also develops a warm amberey and woodsy character that is very much in tune with the season....

Continue reading "Ruban D'Orange by L'Occitane {Perfume Short - Express Perfume Review}" »

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Christian Dior is releasing a collector edition perfume for this holiday season called Midnight Charm. It is described as a fruity floral meant to please women who are both romantic and impish....

Continue reading "Collector Edition Midnight Charm by Dior {New Perfume}" »

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Caline Night is a special limited edition issued just for the winter holidays 2006. It is described as an oriental and is a woodsier and more gourmand take on the original Caline launched in 2005. The perfume was composed by Thierry Wasser of Firmenich.

Top notes are mandarin, apple, plum, fruity notes. Heart notes are patchouli, jasmine, rose. Base notes are praline, sandalwood, vanillic note, musk. 

Source: Osmoz 

Posted by Marie-Hélène Wagner | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)