Let’s take a quick look at five new (ish) fragrances I have recently smelt but have not yet written about and may never get around to if I don’t start doing my new Speed Smelling series. I’ll write my first impressions, these won’t be worn five times or more as I usually do when I write a review. They are sprayed on skin though so I’m not just relying on the mouilette or blotter. Plus this is a five minute and under read – so with everyone’s short attention spans these days, this should be a plus. So let’s dive in. Here we go.
L’Homme Ideal EDP : Guerlain : Nose : Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk : 2016 : Notes : Top : Bergamot, almond, spices : Middle : Bulgarian rose, vanilla, incense : Base : Tonka, sandalwood, leather
I like this better than the EDT from 2014. Is it my imagination or is this quite sweet for a mainstream masculine? This has a lot of vanilla and tonka in a modern, smooth Guerlain style. Women should give this a go too, especially if you don’t like the uber sweet perfumes Guerlain are making in the womens line as this is definitely toned down from the sugar levels of La Petite Robe Noire but still has vanilla with flickers of spice.
Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate : Hermes : Nose : Christine Nagel : 2016 : Notes : Rhubarb, red berries, white musk
The first scent from Christine Nagel (the new in house perfumer at Hermes) as she takes the reins from Jean – Claude Ellena. Stunning sharp and fruity opening for this Eau de Cologne with hints of grapefruit before it fades from view to a musky fuzz. Quite fleeting for the price, but on the plus side that red bottle is a beauty.
Legend Spirit : Mont Blanc : Nose : Nathalie Lorson and Olivier Cresp : 2016 : Notes : Top : Bergamot, pink pepper, grapefruit : Middle : Cardamom, lavender, water notes : Base : Oakmoss, white musk, cashmere woods, white wood
Masculine aromatic that smells passable but not particularly exciting. It has an aromachemical in here that is really not agreeing with me. Just not my thing. I checked on the Fragrantica reviews and they’re very positive though.
Patchouli Blanc : Réminiscence : Nose : Fabrice Pellegrin : 2015 : Notes : Top : Aldehydes, anise : Middle : Powdery notes, hawthorn : Base : Sandalwood, patchouli, amber, white musk
Clean smelling patchouli, stripped back of the camphorous warmth in their pioneering Patchouli fragrance. For those who like their patch smelling like a designer home sparsely furnished in white.
Alaia : Alaia Paris : Nose : Marie Salamagne : 2015: Notes : Top : Mountain air, pink pepper : Middle : Peony, freesia, rose : Base : White musk, leather, violet
At first sniff I’m not particularly interested but this perfume does bloom and becomes more interesting as it wears. Water on brick walls is the inspiration for the scent? Well on me it smells very musky and floral with hints of sun peeking through. To its credit, this is very different from other fashion house offers. The bottle is beautiful, if only I liked it a little more it would be mine, although I suspect Alaia could be a grower.
And that’s Speed Smelling #1 done and dusted. Thank you for reading and I’ll have another on the way shortly.
Have you tried any of these perfumes? Like, love, meh?
Megan In Sainte Maxime 
“mountain air” note? lol
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I had a bit of an eye roll when I saw that too!
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You fared better with Alaia than me – and I did wonder if it was something subtle – the chalky / mineral facet? – that my nose failed to detect, as it garnered rave reviews. The bottle is nice though!
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Hi Vanessa. I think the chalk part passed me by too but that bottle!
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The rhubarb one and the Alaia have been on my radar but not enough to actively seek them out to sniff. I’m still interested in the Alaia after reading this but the typical fleeting aspect of the Hermes has knocked it down a few spots on my sniff list.
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The fleeting aspect is annoying as I loved the opening on the Hermes but ….. I really need to love something to buy it. The Narcisse Bleu lasts quite well from memory out of the cologne range. Definitely worth trying the Alaia. It seems if you fall for it you go for quite a tumble. X
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I haven’t tried any of these and, most likely, won’t – unless I come across one of them and there’s nothing else to test. But still I like the format and look forward to the next episodes.
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Hi Undina. Thanks for popping by and for the feedback.
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