Posted by Robin
on
4 February 2011

Fall? Bah, humbug. I’m a summer person. The best thing I can say about fall is that at least it isn’t winter yet.
That’s me a couple of years ago, opening the Top 10 of Fall by complaining that it wasn’t summer. Imagine how I feel now. There is nothing good I can say about winter except that at least it’s already part of the way over. So, let’s move on to the perfume, shall we?
Citrus. Angie recommends avoiding citrus in winter; instead, she says you should find a good tropical fragrance to psych yourself out of the winter doldrums. She’s right that citrus doesn’t really have the same effect when you’re wearing several layers of warm clothing, but it cheers me up all the same — some winters, I wear an awful lot of citrus. I’m including two in this category. Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Pamplemousse is cheerful, reasonably long-lasting, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. As an added bonus, it layers nicely with just about anything. Aftelier’s Candide costs more (and is perhaps more accurately termed a citrusy floral), but it’s so happy, it makes me smile just to think about it…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Jessica
on
29 October 2010

Even though I’ve finally finished my years (and years) of higher education, I still think of autumn as a season of “back to school” anticipation, complete with new books, new shoes, and new friendships — as well as the renewal of older friendships. Angela’s recent post describing her fragrance collection as a group of friends made me smile and made me look at my own fall fragrance line-up in a similar way.
Les Parfums de Rosine Poussière de Rose was one of my first “niche” perfume purchases, and it’s still one of my closest fragrance “companions.” I actually wear it from fall through spring, because it always feels right. It reminds me of rose potpourri in a cedar box; very nostalgic. We’re two of a kind.
Rochas Tocade is another longtime acquaintance, a rose-and-vanilla floriental that I bring back into rotation every autumn. It can feel a bit overdressed sometimes, and it’s definitely not shy, but I always know I can rely on it to boost my confidence for a night out.
Ormonde Jane Ta’if is a more recent arrival to my perfume wardrobe…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
29 April 2010

I love incense in almost all its (perfume) guises, from gothic to boho to meditative. Sonoma Scent Studio’s new Incense Pure, in my own entirely idiosyncratic fragrance family classification system, goes neatly into the “outdoor incense” category, a group that also includes Tauer Perfumes Incense extrême and Comme des Garçons Ouarzazate. Both of those fragrances have a contemplative quality, but they’re too airy and fresh to be churchy.
Incense Pure, despite being denser than either Incense extrême or Ouarzazate, likewise smells like the outdoors, and in this case, a specific time and place: it reminds me of early fall in northern New Mexico…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
29 March 2010

Indie niche line Sonoma Scent Studio has launched Incense Pure, an updated version of their 2007 fragrance Encens Tranquille:
A resinous and meditative woodsy incense scent composed with indulgent amounts of wonderful natural oils…
Read the rest of this article »
Posted by Robin
on
26 March 2009
Sonoma Scent Studio has launched two new fragrances, Tabac Aurea and Lieu de Reves.
Tabac Aurea (shown)…
…has an enticing golden amber drydown and a pipe tobacco note that is gentle enough to be enjoyed by women as well as men…
Read the rest of this article »