Binxcat's Purrfect Fragrance

Creed – Viking Before I start my review, I’d like to extend my thanks to Jennifer Villalba from the Creed Boutique in New York for a sample of this fragrance.  If you’re looking for any Creed products, she was absolutely lovely to work with. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Creed’s newest release, Viking, which is described by the brand as, “a fiery men’s fragrance that bottles the fearless spirit of boundless exploration for the modern man who goes against the grain”.  Viking opens on me with a strong blast of bergamot and a somewhat sharp lemon that seems to appear and disappear throughout the opening.  Despite the fresh brightness of the bergamot and lemon, the opening is also decidedly masculine with a spicy dark feel.  As Viking begins to develop, the citrus begins to fade and the pink peppercorn and rose become much more prominent.  The rose feels very much like a burnt rose and retains that heady spiciness we started to sense in the opening....

Viktor & Rolf - Magic Sage Spell Tonight I am testing Magic Sage Spell by Viktor&Rolf.  I want to extend my thanks to Kenisha Mason of Saks Fifth Avenue for the sample. When I thought of sage, my mind instantly went to Thanksgiving and preparing my turkey dinner; particularly the stuffing.  Sage is not something I would have sought out in a fragrance so the fact that Marie Salamagne decided to not only use sage but make it the focus of a fragrance is, in my opinion, creative at the least.  This juice opens with a bold sage paired with a subtle mint.  The two taken together create an aromatic that is a piece of both but unlike either.  The sage retains its herbal quality but is lifted to a new freshness.  There is a strong green quality to the opening.  There is the slightest hint of grapefruit about fifteen minutes in that lends a tartness and brightness.  Pink pepper brings in a bit of spice.  The pepper is not detectabl...