Binxcat's Purrfect Fragrance

Nasomatto: Nudiflorum Extrait de Parfum Nudiflorum was released in 2018 by Nasamatto.   It is a floral woody musk that is said to be, “an interpretation of a feeling of being touched.” On me, Nudiflorum opens with a very bold, smoky, rubbery leather.   It is an opening not for the bashful.   It has a raw, hotness to it that in some ways is reminiscent of flesh.   Shortly after the initial note, the leather is accompanied by a deep green bitterness atop a pensive iris.   In my wear, I could not detect violet. In the middle of wear, a synthetically sticky jasmine with a bit of sweetness melds into the smoked leather.   The scent remains rough and rugged.   It feels like an intentionally unfinished symphony.   A swirl of musky white florals compliments the drydown.   Where you’d expect there to be cacophony, there is sense.   There is an overall primal sensation in the wear of Nudiflorum that makes it stand out as something ve...

Perfumology – Clutch Parfum Clutch is the newest fragrance (2018) from the collaboration of Justin Frederico and Nir Guy, the owner of Perfumology.   It is an oriental spicy fragrance said to be inspired by “the gratifying sensation of a perfect drive on a cool day.” I was initially put off by the name of this fragrance.   For me, the name conjures up images of a man, admittedly well-groomed, behind the leather clad wheel of his sports car lapping a track, changing gears, for kicks.   I imagined dense smoke wafting into the air from the unmufflered racing car.   It was not an image that made me want to try the fragrance.   I am very glad my curiosity got the better of me. Clutch opens with a delightfully peppered ginger embraced with the most delicate of white smoke.   It is a rendition of ginger that, while smoky, retains its delicious bite and freshness due to the addition of elemi.   I get the bright crispness in the air that the perfu...

DedCool - Velvet (Monroe) Velvet (Monroe) (“Velvet”) is part of the brand new Series 2 on pre-order now from DedCool.   It is an aromatic woody fragrance that I find quickly distinguishes itself from the pack.   If you have been following me, you know that DedCool is one of my favorite fragrance brands.   Not only are all of their fragrances well-constructed, but the brand has an ethos that speaks to the modern heart. Velvet opens with a sultry, smoky, incense-tinged mimosa.   Yet instead of feeling heavy, as many smoky incense fragrances can, Velvet feels light and warm.   There is a nice, refreshing touch of eucalyptus that brightens the blend.   Velvet does not go the way of a church-like incense but instead holds the same reverence for the accord with wisps that capture the imagination. As Velvet continues to wear, I begin to get a lightly sweetened (but not cloying) black licorice.   Here I need to comment that in general, I dislike ...

Comme de Garcons - Amazingreen EDP Whenever possible, I’m an outside of the box – color outside the lines – person.  So picking Amazingreen, an aromatic green fragrance, to test on some of the coldest days of Winter makes sense to me.  Why not break the “rules” and add a lush greenness to the darkest days?! Amazingreen opens as you would expect.  There is a bold, fresh grassy greenness filled with all the richness of green leaves.  I get a blend of green leaves where the palm tree, jungle, and ivy leaves are not individually identifiable but instead combine to create a more complex “green” leafy note.  I also get a dampness to the leaves.  It’s as if you’ve entered a dense rainforest just after a downpour.  It’s that singular scent you smell as the rain melds with the verdant leaves.  I sense the promise of fertile life. And just when you’re sure that you’re simply on a jungle exploration, in comes a blast of bright spice mixed with a...

En Voyage Perfumes - Figa The perfumer, Shelley Waddington, was offering a giveaway of samples of her fragrances (by contest) in one of my fragrance groups.  While I was not fortunate enough to have won the giveaway, Ms. Waddington was kind and generous enough to extend a prize to some that had not won; in her Portland based saying to “put a bird on it”.  The charming phrase, which being an East Coaster I had never heard before, refers to a little addition; the cherry on top if you will.  In this case my “cherry” was a sample of her fragrance Figa.  While I’ve seen this fragrance classified as an oriental floral it does in many respects defy the nomenclature.  The genesis of this scent and its purpose are based in the history and magic of talismans.  In her words, “Figa Eau de Parfum is the fragrance equivalent of the powerful Figa amulet. It celebrates strength, power, vision and success.”  And really, who couldn’t use a little more of that?!...

Solstice Scents - Conjure There are days you want or need your fragrance to evoke something of the mystical.  Today is one of those days for me and I decided to reach for Conjure. Conjure opens with a beautiful note of amber on me.  The amber is warm, rich, slightly musky and tinged with just a hint of vanilla.  I get a light cedar covered with spices.  There is an incense note of cinnamon that adds a mysterious complexity to this juice.  I get a creamy sandalwood note that has a deep smokiness.  Taken together the notes of amber, spice, woods, and smoke create a complex, wearable, dark scent that suggest an intimate experience with the magical. Conjure wore for 5 hours on me with a moderate to light projection. Notes:  Blend of Amber, Vanillas, Cedar, Allspice, Cauldron Smoke and lots of other Essential Oils

Solstice Scents - Vanilla Pipe Tobacco I love the smell of pipe tobacco.  My only recollection of ever even smelling pipe tobacco was from many years ago.  When I was a child, I can remember my cousin lighting his pipe during family gatherings.  He never smoked it in full company.  Instead, I recall him retiring to his study, sitting back, and smoking.  There was something about the tobacco smoke, and his study filled from floor to ceiling with books, and him sitting relaxed in his leather chair.  My cousin stopped smoking pipes decades ago and it’s been many years since I’ve seen him.  It’s funny, the memories are not ones I think of often, but this fragrance brings them flooding back. With Vanilla Pipe Tobacco I get almost a caramel vanilla pipe tobacco with just a hint of smoke.  Maybe it’s the smoke that makes the vanilla smell like caramel to me.   The freshness of the vanilla tobacco has that coziness to it from the fragra...