Posted by Kevin
on
5 August 2011
I’m loyal. My favorite summer fragrances haven’t changed (much) in years, but unlike most people on Earth my “favorites” are over 25 in number. I’ve reviewed and praised those perfumes already, so for this summer’s “top 10,” I’m expanding and tweaking the process to include non-perfume, but perfumed, products: things like shower gel, candy bars, candles and incense.
On summer days, it’s pleasurable to sweeten the air inside the house with a scented candle. A closed house coupled with air conditioning can make air stale indoors. Un-air conditioned air also benefits from some “aroma therapy.” I usually opt for lots of fresh floral bouquets inside during summer, but a candle comes in handy as roses, lilies and tuberose peter out in the garden. My candle of choice this summer is not floral or citrus-y, it’s the LAFCO New York Majestic Oak candle (in LAFCO’s House & Home/Dream Home Collection of 15 candles; $55). Majestic Oak (“Tree House”) has a smoky, raw-wood aroma, not cloying or oppressive at all (it contains oak, geranium, fir, vetiver, and light amber). While Majestic Oak burns, the air in the house smells and feels clean, and I’m invigorated.
I’m a fan of scenting the air outdoors too. I shun citronella-scented “garden” incense (soooo utilitarian!) and opt for something more exotic, like Nado Poi Zokhang “Bamboo” incense from Bhutan…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
13 July 2010
Italian niche line Bois 1920 has launched three new fragrances for women under the name Le Voluttuose: Kimono Rose, La Vaniglia and Notturno Fiorentino.
Kimono Rose (shown) ~ “Kimono Rose is a homage to femininity…”
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Angela
on
24 March 2009
Of the two new Bois 1920 Eaux de Toilette, Vento di Fiori and Come La Luna, I was sure that Vento di Fiori, a green chypre, would be my favorite. After all, the combination of citrus, galbanum, flowers, oakmoss, and patchouli is irresistible, especially in spring. Come La Luna, on the other hand sounded kind of ordinary. I discovered that while Vento di Fiori is nice, I’ve fallen for Come La Luna.
The Bois 1920 website describes Come La Luna as “citrus-spicy-amber” and lists its notes as Sicily mandarin, Sicily sweet orange, rose wood, pink pepper, coriander, Indonesian patchouli, amber, and incense. The combination sounds good but not particularly remarkable. On skin, however, Come La Luna shows itself as an aristocratic wood scent: serious and elegant, but with a vein of coriander running through it that registers as intimate and slightly naughty. Picture an immaculate mahogany end table, the aroma of the orange oil used to polish it still in the air. Now imagine a naked woman sitting on it, and you begin to get the idea…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
27 February 2009
Italian niche line Bois 1920 introduced two new fragrances for women last year, and they’ve just arrived at Luckyscent in the US:
Vento di Fiori ~ “Self-assured and sophisticated – this classic chypre opens with a crystalline Sicilian lemon laced with coriander and tarragon, which gives way to the intense green bite of galbanum. The darker green of earthy patchouli comes in to soften and deepen the boldly crisp beginning…” Other notes include cardamom, jasmine, amber, oak moss, musk and birch…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Angela
on
22 December 2008
I don't know about you, but most of the fragrances in my stash have definite personalities. So, by instinct I arrange the mild florals together, not far from the aldehyde-heavy fragrances, and then put the insistent florals on another shelf near the green chypres where they'll get along. The woody scents and leather hang out together not far from some of the vintage divas, and the 1980s blockbusters party by themselves on another shelf altogether. That way, bossy Paloma Picasso Mon Parfum doesn't scare the wildflowers out of the gentle Caron Fleurs de Narcisse, and Dana Tabu's trashy intensity won't freak out the happy-go-lucky Guerlain Chamade. Bois 1920 Sutra Ylang is one of the rare fragrances that could be at home just about anywhere in my perfume cabinet.
According to Bois 1920's website, Enzo Galardi founded Bois 1920 in Florence, Italy in 2005 when he was inspired by formulae for Eaux de Toilette that his grandfather created in 1920. Galardi, who had begun studying perfume in 1985, launched Bois 1920 with eight unisex fragrances. Bois 1920 has since added two fragrances especially for women. An aside on pronunciation: although Bois is spelled identical to the French word for “wood”, at my local perfume shop they say that it is pronounced “boe (rhymes with toe)-EES”.
Sutra Ylang is one of Bois 1920's eight original fragrances…
Read the rest of this article »
