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Olfactif September 2014

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*pr sample for review, affiliate links*

This month’s Olfactif was my favorite month yet. “That Which We Call A Rose” contains three amazing scents, all rose, yet all very different! Even if you think you don’t like rose scents, I dare you to try this month’s box. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the three unique takes on rose from Olfactif.

Lady Vengeance – Juliette Has A Gun – Sounds menacing doesn’t it?! Nope, this scent is innocent, soft and sweet musky rose. The patchouli grounds it and gives it lasting power. I was shocked to see patchouli in the notes, which I didn’t look at until after testing. It’s really a beautiful fragrance, one that’s suitable for year round. If I had to match this scent to an outfit, it would be comparable to wearing your most favorite soft cashmere sweater and comfy boots on the first crisp autumn day.

notes: Bulgarian rose, vanilla, patchouli. (I promise it’s so much more complex than it would seem!)

Rose Cut – Ann Gerard Parfums – This scent is elegant and refined, classy with its spicy benzoin dry down. There is a hint of green earthiness while wet. This is the strongest of the three scents, and has some serious lasting power!

notes: Aldehydes, rum, pink pepper, rose, peony, patchouli, vanilla, oakmoss, benzoin absolute. 

Mohur – Neela Vermeire Creations – It was Olfactif that started my love affair with Neela Vermeire fragrances. Everyone I’ve tried, I have absolutely fallen head over heels for. I was SO excited to see Mohur in this month’s box! This scent is smooth and sexy, and has an edible quality to it. Not a gourmand scent, but mouth-watering. It starts out as a sweet floral, and gets sexier in the dry down when the leather peeks out. This is my favorite scent in the bunch.

notes: Cardamom, coriander, ambrette, carrot, black pepper, elemi oil, Turkish rose, jasmine, violet, orris, hawthorn, almond milk accord, leather, sandalwood, patchouli, oud, benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean.

An Olfactif subscription is $18 per month (you can also do 3, 6 or 12 month plan), and you are reimbursed the full $18 towards a full bottle of the perfumes available that month. Pretty nice way to try some unique niche fragrances! What do you think about these scents? Anything you’d like to try??

Botrytis Ginestet Perfume Review

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This month’s Olfactif box theme was Coming To Our Senses, guest curated by Alyssa Harad. Her memoir, Coming to My Senses:A Story of Perfume, Pleasure and an Unlikely Bride, is available this month on Olfactif’s website. I’m really pleased with this month’s scents, and consider it to be one of my favorites. You can see my other favorites from November’s Leather scents, Bombay Bling and Perfect Coconut Milk.

Botrytis-Ginestet
Botrytis Ginestet notes: Honey, dried fruits, white flowers, vanilla and pain d’epices (a French spiced bread similar to Gingerbread). Described as “the raw sweetness of wine and wild honey.”

My take:  I knew I’d love this, as sweet scents are usually my favorite. I typically get along very well with honey notes. On first spray, it smells edible and candy-like. The honey pops out quickly. It’s a creamy, raw honey rather than a sticky, syrupy honey. The white flowers peek out within ten minutes, softened by the vanilla. The scent still has an edible quality, with  a wet and juicy aroma. Upon dry down, the scent has a hint of grain to it. It remains sweet throughout and lasts about four hours on my skin.

The 100ml edt bottle retails for $110, however, Olfactif subscribers receive their $18 subscription cost taken off the full bottle price, as always.  This month, when you purchase a 6 or 12 month subscription to Olfactif, you will receive a free copy of Alyssa’s book.

Have you tried this months Olfactif scents? What other scents are you liking these days?

xo Amber

Perfume.com

Olfactif January Perfume Box – Winter’s Cocoon

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I’m terribly late with my January Olfactif post, for which I’m sorry! I’ve been having a tough time getting back into my blogging routine after the holidays and two weeks with the kids home! Let’s have a look at what beautiful scents Olfactif chose for us this month.

Lightscape by Ulrich Lang New York
notes: Galbanum, Sicilian lemon, violet leaves, iris, rose, violet flower, cyclamen, cedarwood, ambergris, tonka bean, cashmere wood, musk and ambrette seeds.

Field Notes from Paris by Ineke
notes: Coriander seed, orange flower, bergamot, tobacco flower and leaf, patchouli, cedar, tonka bean, leather, beeswax and vanilla.

Violette Fumee by Mona di Orio
notes: Mediterranean lavender, Calabrian bergamot, Balkan oakmoss, violet flowers and leaves, Turkish rose, Haitian vetiver, clary sage, opoponax, myrrh and cashmeran.

I’m still doing some testing with this month’s scents. Stay tuned for individual reviews!
Have you tried any of these scents before? Let me know in the comments what perfumes you’ve been liking lately!
xo Amber

Olfactif December Perfume Box

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The theme of Olfactif’s December box is “Evening.” There is a cozy comforting scent, a sweet and romantic scent, and a glamorous spicy scent.

Au Lait by DSH Perfumes notes – warm milk, sweet cream, ambrette seed, buttercream accord, tonka bean, French vanilla, and Special Formula X.

Night by Sarabecca notes – lemon, bergamot, sage, ginger, vetiver, patchouli, and amber.

Black Angel by Mark Buxton notes – mandarin, ginger, jasmine, orris, styrax, patchouli, and amber.

Did you try this month’s Olfactif scents? I’m really happy with this month’s selections!
xo Amber


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