Summary: In Part 1, Marlen reflects on the process of his first-ever bespoke fragrance, created by Washington perfumer Christi Meshell for the House of Matriarch; in Part 2, Marlen reviews the resulting aroma, a scent inspired by Seville’s Semana Santa. THE PROLOGUE A few times now I’ve tried my hand and nose at making my …
Summary: Marlen recalls a visit to Coty’s offices in New York only to find that his fragrance isn’t the only thing emitting an odor. True story: It’s my big meeting with the people at Coty. I’m sitting in one of those chairs that one couldn’t possibly be comfortable in. Too close to the floor; back …
As a blogging participant of Monica Miller’s Primordial Scents 2012 project, I have been asked to review five groupings of elements-inspired fragrances by perfumers from across the globe. Blogger & perfume-enthusiast Jen Meade explains: This year, the most amazing project is pulling together. The building blocks are, in part, those that form the universe. The …
Summary: Marlen waxes poetic about fragrance samples, praises Nordstrom and Sephora for still supplying customers with samples to take home, and suggests two great online shops for niche samples. It always amazes me that department stores expect customers to purchase fragrance without first supplying them with a sample for testing. This seems to be an …
As a blogging participant of Monica Miller’s Primordial Scents 2012 project, I have been asked to review five groupings of elements-inspired fragrances by perfumers from across the globe. Blogger & perfume-enthusiast Jen Meade explains: This year, the most amazing project is pulling together. The building blocks are, in part, those that form the universe. The …
As a blogging participant of Monica Miller’s Primordial Scents 2012 project, I have been asked to review five groupings of elements-inspired fragrances by perfumers from across the globe. Blogger & perfume-enthusiast Jen Meade explains: This year, the most amazing project is pulling together. The building blocks are, in part, those that form the universe. The …
Summary: Marlen ponders the lack of gardenia notes in fragrances marketed to men and experiments with both DSH Nouveau Gardenia and Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia. I love jasmine and orange blossom. The two aromas are by far my favorite floral notes and lucky for me, they show up constantly in men’s fragrances these days. The …
Summary: Marlen discusses 25+ favorite fragrance discoveries from 2011. Leave a comment for your chance to win a deluxe sample of Kiehl’s Forest Rain. Memorable fragrances that launched in 2011: (click the links for full reviews at ThePerfumeCritic) En Voyage Perfumes, Go ask Alice Mad et Len, Patchouli Sisley, Eau d’Ikar Elie Saab, Le Parfum …
Summary: Marlen discusses his love for some of the lesser discussed Creed fragrances such as Royal Delight, Fleurs de Bulgarie & Vetiver. Barneys, New York, the old downtown store: I walk through the beauty section, room after room, excited by all of the fragrance lines I’d never smelled before. The year is 1992 and I …
Today a kind friend sent me Long Lost Perfume’s dupes of Venezia (based on Laura Biagiotti’s Venezia, 1992), Anarchy (based on Donna Karan’s Chaos, 1996), Duality (based on Anne Klein II, 1985) and Uninhibited (based on Cher’s fragrance of the same name from 1989). All four scents are based on earlier scents and none are …