Binxcat's Purrfect Fragrance

Parfums Dusita - Erawan EDP Erawan is a woody aromatic fragrance released in 2017 from Parfums Dusita.   I selected this fragrance for testing as it’s notes seemed appropriate for the fall-like weather my region is finally moving to. Erawan opens with a creamy nutty woody herbal accord.   The opening is quite unique within the woody aromatics I’ve tested.   There is a brightness and complexity to it while at the same time, not feeling “wet”.   The first whiff is reminiscent of countryside barns.   There is a duality in scent with both a dried tobacco leaf and a fresher green note that I can attribute to the florals.   The greenness adds a touch of water to the composition.   As Erawan wears, I get a vanilla laden hay.   There is a powdery softness to the vanilla without it becoming too sweet or too powdery.   The vanilla almost pulls to a milk chocolate.   In the drydown, I get an infusion of warmth and a slight amplification o...

Gallivant Perfumes – Berlin (Blogger’s Note – Please see my review of Gallivant Brooklyn for brand background and concept.) Having enjoyed the sites in Brooklyn, NY courtesy of Gallivant, I have headed out to JFK airport to catch a flight.  I am stamping my passport this morning to travel overseas to Berlin.  I was curious to see what this urban landscape had to offer me.  Berlin is a woody spicy fragrance with citrus notes.  Yes, citrus.  The fragrance actually opens with a bright and sunny citrus filled with Clementine and lemon with touches of grapefruit.  The opening is gorgeous but I admit I didn’t understand it until I did a little digging about the city.  How lovely that the city has multiple lakeside vacation destination spots (obviously convenient for locals) for Summer swimming!  (*Note the Telegraph did a fantastic article on these spots back on July 13, 2015.)  In its opening Berlin captures the lighthearted, carefree s...

Derek Lam 10 Crosby - Rain Day "A rainy day on Crosby Street. The confidence to find something beautiful and meaningful during a Rain Day.  An enchanting balance of tropical vetiver Haiti and citrusy neroli Tunisia creates a surprisingly fresh scent." (Derek Lam 10 Crosby)  What is a rain day and how does a perfumer capture that essence in a fragrance?  I’ve been to New York but have not been to Crosby Street yet I know what a rain day is.  I’m also one that enjoys a good downpour; and the joy that can sometimes occur after having been caught in that torrent of rain.  Rain Day wears on me as a fairly linear fragrance.  There’s a fresh somewhat citrusy greenness to the floral (neroli) which has a damp quality to it.  It feels very much like the green smell of Spring.  Rain Day feels clean and aquatic.  There is a subtle underlying woodiness to the fragrance as well.  The woody note does not “bring the dewy green floral down”...

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 ...

Eris Parfums - Mx. Earlier this year, Eris Parfums released the fragrance Mx., a woody spicy offering.  I was fortunate enough to have Nir Guy of Perfumology (King of Prussia, PA) send me a sample of this gem.  Can you tell where this review is headed?  Here’s another clue – I ordered a full bottle the day after I first tested it. The creative and intellectual concept behind this fragrance is the interplay between traditionally feminine and masculine notes (although it should be noted this juice contains no florals) in celebration of  “gender neutral” in the fragrance community.  If you’re a member of any fragrance group, I’m sure you’ve seen over and over the comment that scent is and should be genderless.  The global trend to more acceptance of gender-neutrality is something the fragrance community has embraced for some time.  As further evidence of this stance, this juice is simply titled Mx.; the accepted gender neutral title. Mx. open...

Dua Fragrances: Vetivero Vetivero is a fragrance inspired by Roja Parfums Vetiver Extrait.  It is also a chypre.  Anyone who knows me or has read my fragrance reviews knows I am not generally a chypre fan.  And, while it may not be popular to say in the fragrance community, I am also not a huge Roja fan (personally liking roughly 50% of his fragrances, although respecting the artistry in all).  Vetivero opens with a gorgeous bergamot-lemon.  I’ve hyphenated here as the notes are equally and beautifully balanced.  This is not that icky citrus vibe you get from some other juices – you know, the ones that smell like Lemon Pledge!  No this is a gorgeous, effervescent, fresh note.   I get a light and subtle jasmine.  The rose is subtle as well.  These notes rest ever so delicately on a beautiful base of vetiver and wood.  The spices in this round the base but it’s really the vetiver and woods that sing.  Vetiver Exr...

Atelier Cologne: Vetiver Fatal You know what's just as good as being "easy on Sunday morning"? Being easy on Saturday morning! This woody aromatic is simply smooth and easy. I know vetiver (and oud) can be polarizing notes for many but vetiver is a favorite note for me; although oud can be hit or miss. With Vetiver Fatal, Atelier Cologne has taken the often times sharpness out of vetiver and given us the most gorgeous lightly green and earthy lemongrass. The fruit blend features a somewhat more prominent plum laid over a softly flowered citrus; these notes add a dash of sweetness. The sweetness remains in check, however, as the juice is tied together with hints of cedar and oud. Neither the cedar nor the oud are strong. They simply remain in the background rounding out and balancing this fragrance...making it oh so easy to wear. "Vetiver Fatal by Atelier Cologne is a Woody Aromatic fragrance for women and men. Vetiver Fatal was launched in 2012. The fragrance...