Four in One Swat
Just as a disclaimer, this is a bit of a drive-by sniffing post. Some were tried during shopping expeditions, and other sampled but briefly. But I figured I better write it all down before I forget… (Others were utterly forgotten, and some, like Guerlain’s Sous le Vent, I’m still puzzling over.) I’m in a listy mood, I guess.
Also, I have no answer whatsoever for the person who found this blog using this search term, but maybe one of you guys do? (And if you do, I’m thinking I ought to write an I.A.Q., or Infrequently Asked Questions, for Scentzilla at some point.)
Since I was looking at my stats anyhow to see how people found this site, I was strangely pleased to see that according to Google, I am the world’s #1 source for angry rambling! My thanks to everyone who reads my angry rambling! \
So, uh, anyhow, on with the perfume reviews:
Rich Hippie ~ Wild Thing
I smell lily of the valley, slightly creamy from a touch of vanilla, and jasmine at first. The dry down unveils a spicy rose and wood (guessing at cedar and woody amber) combo, but with an earthy feel, which I presume must be coming from the listed orris note. It’s quite nice, lovely actually, but not nearly so nice as to justify that flipping $255 per half-ounce price tag. Rich hippie? No, hippie without a cause. The company hilariously states that “Prior to World War II, all fine perfume was 100% natural and chemical free.” I don’t know whether to laugh at the inaccurate totality of this sentence, or just roll my eyes. I think I’ll go with a well-placed *snerk*. Moreover, as Robin from Now Smell This points out, nowhere on their site do they specifically guarantee their own perfumes are 100% natural, though it is implied. Sadly, there’s something in this perfume that irritates my skin, so do use caution if you have sensitive skin. (Please see the review from Now Smell This or this one from C’est Chic for other takes on it.)
Niki Taylor ~ Begin
Citrus drops and lily of the valley at top, but really, it’s mostly Brach’s Jelly Nougat candies. As a sidenote, didn’t these candies used to be rectangle shaped? I could swear they used to be called something else, too. I’m sure there’s other “stuff” in Begin, but who cares? So dreadfully dull I didn’t even bother past the first spray onto paper from the tester bottle. Maybe I’m wrong, it could have been an off day, but I won’t be revisiting Begin unless anyone reading this can make a compelling case for it.
Cartier ~ Delices de Cartier
Yet another new fruity-floral. I’d sigh in boredom, except as it turns out, I like it. Whatever will become of me? I can’t say it’s full bottle worthy personally, but I did enjoy it, and I appreciate its sultry appeal. Strawberry wine, plummy liqueur, and Shasta black cherry soda, with smokey intonations of woody amber and vanilla across light florals in the dry down. Sound a little trashy? It’s not. It’s gloriously slutty! It’s the type who gets a little too tipsy at the party, acts a little too flirty, talks a little too much, and becomes the woman of 1,000 arms, all stretched out to give sideways hugs to every male (and some of the females, too.) Sluts are good people, y’all. After all, we all have our slutty moments. I attach no negativity to that word personally: I think it’s societal code for “any woman who is the least bit sexual.” Worth looking into the parfum if you’re a fan of fruity-florals, and worth a sniff even if you’re only a wannabe slut. As yet another sidenote, Sarah Bunting has written the best essay I’ve ever read on the word “slut.” I find myself referencing her essay in conversation whenever the topic arises, and everyone and their dog should read it. She’s a wonderful writer. (For more on Delices, please see Bois de Jasmin, Victoria’s Own, MonkeyPosh, Pink Manhattan, Perfume Posse, and Now Smell This for other reviews.)
Lubin ~ Idole de Lubin
Slap on some patchouli. Open one antique cedar trunk. Pack it full of molasses cookies. Take a swig of Jack straight from the bottle, wipe your mouth with the back of your hand, and throw into the trunk, too. Voila! Idole. Once you eliminate its silly layer of exoticism that is about as authentic as a tiki bar, you’ve got a perfectly enjoyable fragrance. (For more on Idole de Lubin, please see Legerdenez, Now Smell This, Bois de Jasmin, or seach for the one at Perfume-Smellin’ Things that I distinctly remember reading, but cannot link to at the moment because the permalink isn’t working as I write this.)