Perfume adventure

Oh, well I have been on a perfume adventure. By accident I found a place in Malmö (situated in the very south of Sweden)that offers various fragrances from an old perfume warehouse. Checked it up, looked at pictures and contacted the owner. We decided that the easiest way to get a grip of the perfumes was for me to actually come to Malmö an see for myself.My husband had to drive me, and belive me there is more pleasant thing to do then to drive all the way to Malmö (and back) in bad january weather. But what I got with me (see the pic above) was very much worth the car ride. Feels like a once in a lifetime experience, but you never know. A lot of vintage treasures and also more "modern" fragrances that is discontinued (or have been reforulated beyond recognision). Some of them I will keep to myself, but if you see something in the pic that you feel like trying,please contact me,I´m sure we can work something out. Some of them I prefer to sell as they are. One thing that strikes me when I try not before tested perfumes (the one´s from the 80ies or early 90ies mostly, not the really,really old one´s) is that they even though being "ordinary" designer frags, they have something that newer designer/main stream fragrances seem to miss. They have a richness, a feeling of luxury that seem to be more and more hard to come by without getting into niche... Seemlike something -bad- happened to over all perfume quality sometime in the mid 90ies, porbably cheaper aromachemicals and more water for the same price...and that is really a shame. :(

Antonio Visconti - Coeur de Vanille

While I haven´t update the blog for a long time, my perfume interest have still been intact. Though, it have looked a little different. Mostly I have used my favorites and it has been quite nice to not think about all the news and what to write about. New and unknown perfumes with "strange" notes I have had no urge at all to try. The order among my samples and decants became just a memory. Eventually I couldn´t find samples I knew I had somewhere and new samples came in without getting any attention. Finally, I decided to arrange and sort them all, it took almost a full day, but it was so worth it. Among all the samples I happened to find a sample of a scent I didn´t even know I had. It was this one! Antonio Visconti´s Coeur de Vanille. Oh wow! How many vanilla dominated perfumes are there room for? For this one obviously. It takes place in my absolute top of vanilla perfume, together with greatnesses like Guerlains Spiritueuse Double Vanilla, Profumums Dulcis in Fundo and Montales Vanille Absolu. In style Coeur de Vanille is most similar to Spirituese Double Vanille, since it´s a grown up and rough vanilla. The smell of vanilla (at least the typical image of it) may be one of the most comfortable vi can imagine. It´s a soft, pleasing, friendly and caressing scent. You find it in Coeur de Vanille together with smoth hazelnut and a nice but eventuallt more prominent note of cocoa. But it´s much more to it then just pleasing. Coeur de Vanille is much more complex, add some real smokey vetiver, some grey and powdery clove and a dash of aromatic and narcotic nutmeg. Well, all I can say is WOW! Amazing. Now we´re talking. Coeur de Vaille makes me think about mystic rituals, the sound of drums, flickering candles and secret societys. But, kind of in your grannies kitchen or gathered around the camp fire, what is going to happen, something unexpectet, something thrilling, something forbidden? But you feel safe, because you have your best friends with you. Isn´t that what we need to throw us self out in the unknown? At least a little bit of safety? Coeur de Vanille manage to offer the best of two worlds comfort and exitement at the same time. And wuth probably top notch raw material. It´s not exactly cheap, but quite superable for 100 ml. It´s most definitly worth the price and FB-worthy as well. It´s most spicy and smokey in the opening and some hours in, some of it goes lost and the drydown is more on the soft, gourmand side even though with a little dark bitterness from the cocoa. Lasting power is great on me, all day long. Perfect this time of year and probably work well on both men and women. Everyone looking for that grown up, dark, mystic vanilla should check this out. Coeur de Vailles makes me want to try others from Antonio Visconti. I´ve wrote a great deal about vanilla fragrances, since vanilla is fave note of mine. But, I have to ask, do you have any favorite fragarnce that manage to mix those kind of soft, cuddly, friendly notes with darkness, exitement and mystic? Isnt it exactly those kind of fragrances that manange to become favorites? One part mysterious stranger and one part best friend? ;)

Still here, just a little refurbished...

I have no idea if anyone still waits for some life signs from me? But if that´s the case, well here I am again. It has been some hard times, but now I am most def back on track again. I have posted som on the Swedish blog, but when I was the worse I couldn´t even think in English much lesser write, but now I belive I got the hang of it again. :) It have happended a lot, like I have started my own very small, very basic company. It´s all abaout perfumes of course. I will sell decants (don´t have that many to chose from, yet) and offer perfume testing "parties", in Sweden that is. Also I will offer perfume counseling for people that is curious about to find that perfect scent but don´t have the time and knowledge to look for them self. This is the link to my very basic homepage: http://www.theperfumenerd.n.nu/ I will invest in a "proper" webshop as soon as possible, but not before Christmas, after all five kids and three grand kids expect some Christmas presents. Do you have any wishes for a particular brand or perfume to have in my shop? Let me know, I will fokus on hard to get, vintage and expensive brands, those that you don´t afford a big bottle of or can´t get. I ship world wide, and the counseling is also open for world wide clients. I think both decants and some counseling could be great gifts for people not totally smitten by perfumes yet. I hope to see you soon, here at the blog, or in my little shop. Missed you all.

Out of order...

I´m sorry about the lack of posting lately, but I´m not feeling well. Have been feeling strange since beginning of april and have had no idea why.


Sleeping issues, poor apetite and felt generally uninspired, tired and off. Not even new fragarnces has manage to caprute my interest, rather the other way around, new scents have felt "to much" and I´ve prefered the well known and familiar comfort scents during this period.


Anyway, now I think I´ve got a clue about what I suffer from, it can be a thyroid inflammation a condition I have had before even though it´s many years ago. Should have recognise the symptoms, but they´re rather diffuse and vague in the beginning and since I´ve been really healthy the last ten years or so I feel very un-used to being sick... I leave to the doctors to figure out if it´s really another thyroid inflammation and hope I can see one as soon as possible, even though the nurse I talked to didn´t had any time to give me the coming week. :(


I really hope for a speedy recovery. Until then I hope it´ll be a guest post about male fragrances from a well known brand by Habit Man and also I have some new fragrances to present that I hope to get around to in not to long time...

Blood concept A AB B O

Do you know what blood type you have? Mine is O+, and I know that since they blood typing pregnant women and also beacuse I once tried to become a blood donator. Unfortunatly my blood vessels are very thin/narrow, so it took like forever to draw blood from me, so I decided to end my short career as a blood donator after the first and only attempt.


Some Italian guys have created a new perfume line, Blood Concept, and they presented it at the perfume exhibit in Milan about a month ago. Every blood typa has it´s own fragrance, A AB B and O. You can chose the one you like the most or go with the one for your blood type. I´ve got a kit with cardboards of the "scratch and sniff-type". It´s nicely presented even though I don´t belive they smell as they would do on skin.


To be honest I´m a little relieved, I´m not much of a blood romantic. Yes, Gary Oldman did look nice in Dracula, but I´ve never been that interested in the pop cultural Dracula nor his cousins the vampires. Yes, I read "Confessions of a vampire" back then, but non of the followers...


Youngest and oldest daughters have a weakspot for vampires though, and I had a very awkward movie experience when I saw one of the Twilight-moives with youngest daughter some time ago.


To make things even worse, the smell of blood is one of the most offensive I know. Maybe, because I´ve raised five wild childs that have occationally manage to get head injures and belive me, the way to the emergency room with a heavily bleeding kid in mine lap isn´t exactly my idea of fun. No worries though, most head injuries (at least on my kids) looks much worse then they really are, a lot of bleeding from a relativly small skalp wound.


However, Blood Concept´s fragrances don´t smell that strange (at least not on paper).
O which is my blood type, actually smelling really nice, the metallic (or bloody note) note isn´t that obvious, it´s more of a warm, sweet, berry fragrances with a leathery base. This I would´nt doubt to try directly at my skin.


AB with notes of aldehydes, aluminium, pebbles, cedar and metal is interesting. It´s very unique and the metal smells sharp, clean and modern rather then rusty or bloody. This one I would prefer to test on my husband first. ;)


The same goes for B, which is the most powerful of the four (on paper), bold notes of patchouli, artemesia, vanilla is mixed with fruity, tart notes and of course the metallic one´s. this metal is more on the rusty side, but it´s like the other notes hides it a little.


A on the other hand I wish no one close to me ever try on skin, it has a green, aromatic scent with tomato leaf and basil, that really underscores and lift up the smell of "blood". On paper and a fast sniff, I can control it, but I don´t feel like I ever would need to sniff it again.


Despite my aversion towards A, and hesitation about AB and B, I find Blood Concept to be interesting. The test kit is also cool and if you can find one I do suggest you to try them. The fragrances are really, really different and have some resemblance with Etat Libre d'Orange and Nasomatto, so if you´re into that kinds of fragrances, you really should check Blood Concept.


You can find more information about the brand here: http://www.bloodconcept.com/EN/index.php

Pic: Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder, Dracula

J. Eisenberg - Le Péché

I´ve wrote about some of Jose Eisenberg´s fragrances earlier:

http://perfumenerd.blogspot.com/2009/05/jose-eisenberg-rouge-noir.html

http://perfumenerd.blogspot.com/2009/05/jose-eisenberg-rouge-noir.html

After two years I have to admit that Rouge & Noir is my favorite of them, it´s moodlifting, cozy and unique. While J'Ose is a must try for everyone looking for a dark, smoky and slightly masculin fragrance.


Even though Eisenberg have had several well made and interesting fragrances it seem like brand perfumistas often miss. Now Eisenberg has released a bunch of new fragrances and I hope they´ll get some attention.


I have tried three of their new scents, Tentation, Love affair and Le Péché and among them, Le Péché was the one capturing my attention the most.


Most of all it´s the note of hibiscus that attract me, while wearing Le Péché I wonder why hibiscus isn´t more common in perfume. I know that hibiscus is used in Costume Nationals fragrances, Scent, Scent Intense, Sheer and Gloss and among them I really like Scent Intense.


It´s something voluptus, arousing, radiant and on the border to vulgare with hibiscus. The colors are strong, the shape is bodacious and the cocky stamen speaks for itself. In Le Péché, the hibiscus is accompanied by osmanthus and orange flower, that creates a lush, heavy, tropical, sweet, velvety ground of flowers, thnaks to the osmanthus the fragarnces don´t become too heavy. The opneing on Le Péché is summery, pretty, blushing and make me want to dress in chock pink with frills and colorful accesoars.


Le Péché could be a fragarnce both for showgirls in Las Vegas or at Moulin Rouge, Paris as well as a scent for fragile temple dancers at Bali or even, a much to maked up transvestite in Barcelona. There is something filled with joy in Le Péche, but the fragrance also have a darker and more mysterious core.


The heart is filled with amber, jasmine and vanilla which lessen the magnetism of the open, but also make Le Péché softer, warmer and a little powdery. Under the feminine notes you can also sense a darker, even masculine strike in Le Péché, a thrilling counterpoint to the vibrant opening and the soft, feminine heart. Eisenberg´s fragrances often hides an androgyn twist, a flirt with both sexes that is discrete, yet prominent when noticed. The base is filled with vetiver, musk, sandalwood and patchouli.


Le Péché is different, yet without being hard to wear. Also it´s a fragarnces that is young at heart, still most likely to attract women with their prime youth beind them. This is also typical for Eisenberg, and something I really like. Eisenberg´s fragrances is perhaps high end rather then niche, but they have found their own little place and make it theirs in an obvious and personal way.


Another good news is that the fragarnces now is offered in 30, 50 and 100 ml bottles.
look for your self: http://www.eisenberg.com/


Le Péché has good lasting power and good sillage, and I think it´s amust try for anyone looking for fragrances with notes of hibiscus, also Le Péché is a perfect scent for hot summer evnings and nights.


Do you have any good suggestions on other fragrances with note of hibiscus?

Parfumerie Generale - Tonkamande

Now and then I can buy a Yankee Candle in the scent Clean Cotton and put it in my combined bathroom/laundry room, I think it smells fresh and cozy, but usually (very unusual I would say) that not the kind of scent I like to wear as a perfume. Until now, that is.


Parfumerie Generale has recently launched two new limited editions, Praline de Santal and Tonkamande. Praline de Santal smells odd to say the least, but it´s not for me, it gets almost weird, like a very chunky/chewy müslibar dripped in sticky dark syrup. Yet, branflake or strong rye note isn´t THAT commonly used in fragrances, so if this sounds interesting you should at least try it.


Tonkamande on the other hand, oh lala, so beautiful, so clean, crisp and yet warm, sweet and powdery gourmand also.


Partly it smells like old scool bed linen, when people (women mostly I belive) really made an art out of washing their bed linen.Like it smelled in the washhouse when my mother mangled her sheets in the huge stone mangle, when I was about seven years old. People younger then me maybe not even remeber those? Well, Tonkamande also smells like crisp, white bed linen at a really luxurious hotel. Sparkling, clean, white and fresh.


Also Tonkamande brings a feeling of walking up a sand dune during a perfect summer day, reaching the top and look out over the never ending blue sea and the perfectly golden beach below and realise that you (and your best company of choise) will have the perfect beach totally for yourself all day, even though it´s the best summerday.


This kind of fragrances has been made before, but I haven´t got so many referenses to "clean scents", for instant I´ve hardly try any of the popular Clean-fragrances. Even though i think Pierre Guillaume manage to create a perfect clean fragrance, there is more to it, then that.


Beneath the surface of clean whiteness and a perfect beach, there is also a delicate element of the most delish, melting and powdery littel almond cookie you can imagine. sweet, mellow and so good, but Tonkamande is far from being to sweet or too gourmand. It has a rather dry almond note (very likeable). OOOOOOOh this is so good. I can hardly stay away from my small sample and I sure wish I could afford buying a big bottle of it and drench myself in it (or at least with it) during the rest of spring and all summer.


I think it´s kind of funny how my preferences is chagning over time, today i bleive it´s possible to find at least one perfect fragrances even in the most obscure and far from myself fragrance cathegories. tonkamande happend to be the perfect scent for me within the clean type of scents. I can´t reallu understand why I love it so much (after all it is a very clean frag), but sometimes you just let loose and go with the flow...


Good sillage (even from my dab on sample)this is not a shy skinscent, lasting power is good (about 8 hours on me). I do recommend it to everyone liking clean scents, but also if you don´t, give it a try, maybe a surprise waiting for you. Also the combination between clean and gourmand is quite different. Tonkamande is rather feminine, but don´t let that stop you, if you´re a guy. Maybe not the perfect scent to the leather outfit though, or perhaps just the right!?


Fow now I don´t have any money, but you bet I want a FB of this or at least half a bottle if I find someone that would like to split.


As you can udnerstand it was a total surprise to me to become so impressed, do you have aperfume love that is far from your usual preferences?