Binxcat's Purrfect Fragrance

Tokyo Milk Dark - Novacaine No. 85 Eau de Parfum Novacaine is an aromatic spicy fragrance that launched in 2016.   Novacaine opens with a warm, spicy ginger and smoky frankincense with a touch of a sweet vanilla orchid.   There is a kind of a Fall-like heated potpourri feel.   The spicy notes counterbalance the soft vanilla; this prevents the fragrance from becoming cloying.   As Novacaine wears, it becomes slightly more earthy with a dry heat.   The vanilla comes forward somewhat and the spice becomes a more rounded accord.   Beyond this, I get no additional development with the fragrance.   In the drydown, the fragrance retains a cozy, yet somewhat unconventional spiced tone. Novacaine wears on me with soft projection for roughly 5 hours. Notes: crushed ginger, Thai pepper, frankincense, vanilla orchid, black cardamom Perfumer: Margot Elena Note:  Thanks to Nir Guy of Perfumology (King of Prussia, PA) for the sample of this f...

Frederic Malle – Superstitious Superstitious is a contemporary take on the floral aldehyde from Frederic Malle.  Unlike other floral aldehydes with a rose note, the rose in Superstitious is not jammy at all.   It opens with a strong blossoming rose and a soapy aldehyde note.  There is a cleanness to the notes.  In it’s opening, it is a floral aldehyde lovers dream.  About 30 minutes into wear I get an extremely bold jasmine.  The jasmine is strong yet blends seamlessly with the rose.  The aldehydes begin to soften.  Another 30 minutes in and a spicy and juicy peach appear.  There is an effervescence in the way the spiced peach enters the juice.  A subtle resinous amber, as well as the continuing aldehydes, prevent Superstitious from going the way of a fruity floral. Roughly 2 hours into wear, the rose softens and the spiced peach jasmine aldehyde is cradled by a woody vetiver.  The juiciness of the notes begins to ...

Dua Fragrances - Taboo Taboo is an original creation from Dua Fragrances.  It’s classified as an oriental gourmand.  Taboo was a blind buy for me.  Admittedly, I was drawn in by not only multiple fragrance notes that tend to be in my “loves” but also the awesome label design for the bottle.  Taboo is not shy.  It opens with a gorgeous clean patchouli and moody incense tempered with a semi-sweet white chocolate.  It’s bold but not offensive.  As the fragrance develops I get a spicy soft leather sprinkled with a light cocoa.  Neither the patchouli nor the incense have disappeared and these notes, along with the suede leather, prevent the juice from becoming full on gourmand.  There’s just enough sweetness to this to give it interest without becoming cloying.  The notes are gently cradled in a creamy vanilla and amber light musk base.  The base notes give the already intriguing scent a feel of intimacy.  For me, it become...

Acqua di Parma - Colonia Mirra Eau de Cologne Concentrée Colonia Mirra is a dark oriental woody twist on the original Colonia.  Despite the opening with the same notes as Colonia – citruses and orange blossom – Colonia Mirra soon takes a turn to the dark and mysterious side. The spicy note of nutmeg and aromatic resinous amber and myrhh bring a deep warmth to the juice.  The spice is moderate and the amber and myrhh are intense.  There is a balsamic almost incense-like nature to the notes as they are blended. A  woody frankincense deepens the fragrance even further while an earthy patchouli winds itself around the notes.  Wearing Colonia Mirra felt very much like walking through a dark foggy wood at night.  The fragrance feels complex and sophisticated yet almost magical. Colonia Mirra wears on me for roughly 10 hours with moderate projection. Notes: citrus, orange blossom, nutmeg, myrrh, patchouli, frankincense, amber

Parfum D'Empire – Aziyade I love it when a fragrance has the ability to transport you to a different time and place.  With Aziyade, Parfum D’Empire transports us to the Ottoman Empire.  The fragrance was named after the novel, Constantinople, written by Pierre Loti.  The novel tells a tale of forbidden love for a young harem girl, Aziyade. This fragrance opens with the exotic fruits and spices reminiscent of the Fatih Market in modern day Istanbul.  The pomegranate is subtle on me with the almond being undetectable but the date, orange, and prune and each clear and bold.  The fruits are spiced beautifully with  a good share of cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger.  The cumin begins as mild and grows in intensity somewhat as the fragrance develops.  These notes are here to give us time and place but Aziyade is not taking us on a walk through the market, she is bringing us to her secret place.  She is seducing us.  Frankincense, patchou...

Edward Bess: Genre  I have to admit - I almost didn't try this. I've never really cared for leather in any of the fragrances I've tried in the past. I know many love the scent but for me, it brings to mind "new car smell" or walking into a tack shop; not necessarily a bad smell just not something I care to walk around smelling like. But, I decided to give it a chance anyway and I'm glad I did. Genre is unlike any leather fragrance I've tested. Yes, it's most certainly leather, but it's a kinder, gentler version. I get a mild to moderate soft, somewhat powdery leather and suede and a balsamic woody sweetness from the frankincense. I agree that this would work well for both a man and a woman (although I don't go much for classifying scents as male or female). I feel that this would be perfect for anyone interested in trying a leather fragrance; it's very approachable. "A force than cannot be defined, gracefully balanced between A...