5 fragrances for Fall

Picture: From a walk in the hoods
a crisp, sunny, autumn Sundaymorning 2018
Photo: Parfumista (c)

The early autumn month of September has (almost) passed, most sunny and crisp. Probably it's therefore I still don't crave for the dark, thick and heavy frags in the oriental genre. Instead there are most lighter fragrances I've wearing during the last month, fragrances which at least some of them are good examples of transition fragrances:

Iris Rebelle (Atelier Cologne): This is my new favorite iris. Light with a very pleasant opening smelling of fresh baby carrots. Then a beautiful, clean iris appears, wrapped in smooth citric notes.

Nomade (Chloé): The best mainstream release this year , at least from the not so many I've smelled. Like a transparent and contemporary version of Jean Couturier Coriandre. Coriander and moss with a ceratin warmth added to it by delicate soft flowers and light spices. Incredible longevity for such a transparent styled creation.

Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille Edt (Annick Goutal): This is perhaps the messanger of the real autumn in the top 5. That even if the Edt of this elegant, dark, retro patchoulibased beuaty is more transparent than the Edp. A frag that boosts ones confidence. Full review (in swedish) here.

Café Tuberosa (Atelier Cologne): What a comforting beauty! A dark oriental floral with chypre vibes. The coffee and cacao are not sharp or sticky, they blends very balanced with the tuberose in a retrostyled accord. The tuberose dosen't stand out as a flower, it's just a part of the dark blend.

Fathom V (BeauFort): This damp, green, cold, watery, earthy creation reminds me of late winter/early spring but I crave this utterly intriguing composition for fall also. Full review here.

Fragrant dessert

Picture: Scent stripes
Photo: Parfumista (c)

Sometimes when we had dinner we ends up with a fragrant dessert instead of a conventional dessert loaded with calories. Sometimes there is a theme and sometimes there is just random sampling. We are testing on scentstripes in order to experience the fragrances unaffected. Here is an example from a recent fragrant dessert:

First some theme-oriented scentstrips: The intention was to compare immortelle notes which then devolved to compare immortelle and boozy notes.

Sables (Annick Goutal) The starting point was of ocurse the role model of immortelle, Sables. This rough and salty immortelle is the image of dunes, wooden boats and docks, the soggy and slaty air at seaside.

Cuir Beluga (Guerlain) Refined luxurry immortelle combined with the softest, light suedenote ever. Pure delight!

1740 Marquis de Sade (Histoires de Parfums) The immortelle is here and working together with leathery/balsamic notes makes a true dark, cognac, boozy impression appearing.

Speakeasy (Frapin) Of course 1740 MdS had to be compared with the lighter boozy immortelle Speakeasy. On scentstripe the minty note is very prominent compared to what I percieve when wearing it, worn it's more of leathery-dark rum.

After this immortelle study, we went on for a "similar in style and expression but contemporary vs old school" study when I once again complained about the discontinuing of the great contemporary chypre

Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille (Annick Goutal) testing the less radiant and somehow denser Edp. MPCpC IMO is the best AG so far, dark, deep patchy- plummy, a contemporary Femme Fatal and as such clean compared to its (as I belive) role model:

Femme (Rochas) testing an old Edp of the 1989 version, dark, plummy and spicy, predominantly cummin which lends it just the right slight animalic skanky aura. This is perfume at its best, outdoing most of the current niche offerings.

Talking about current niche offerings, we went further to a great and at the moment hyped one:

Iris Nazarena (Aedes de Venustas) Mr Parfumista has complained this smelling "old man and Brut" on me but I suspecting he's just plotting to take over my sample of it. On the scentstripe the smooth, rooty-iris-carrot note is very pleasant and later on, maybe there is a hint of a refined Fabergé Brut. When Mr Parfumista wears Iris Nazarena the day after it smells like on the scentstripe. Maybe I let him have the sample after all...Unfortunately it seeems to be the same as with Mona di Orio Violette Fumée, I really appreciate the fragrance and want to wear it but Mr Parfumista wears it much better :-(

Finally to the antithesis of niche: My mother had handed over an interesting sample to me:

Oud (Alyssa Ashley) interesting because I'm interested to find out how a "budget-oud" is smelling and the answer is: Faint and fleeting, syntetical, dark woody fragrance with a slight almondy note. This note also appears in expensive nicheofferings but with more dept and accompained with more notes and nuances. In the Alyssa Ashley Oud interpretation it's somehow a flat soli-note. Not a bad perfume but nothing engaging either.

Perfumeshopping for Christmas 2013

Picture: Julbocken (The Yule Goat) 1912
Drawing by John Bauer (1882-1918)

Soon Christmas is here and below are some ideas when it comes to perfumeshopping not just for the holidays but also looking in the long term.

• First of all I'll recommend the beautiful perfumes I have sniffed and reviewed this year. Remember: All are good regardless rating. The rating reflects my personal impression when testing the fragrance,  my 3 rated could be your 5.
• For the moment, from the perfumes reviewed 2013, I'm specially craving: Puredistance Black eternal beauty, Robert Piguet Alameda contemporary but in the same time retro, oriental styled chypre, a sophisticated fragrance, the dark and dirty beauty of Le Parfum Couture Denis Durand for M.Micallef and the fascinating, age-, gender- and timeless Orlando from Jardins d'Écrivains.
• Another perfume grabbing my attention at the moment is Andy Tauers fantastic rosecentered PHI Une Rose de Kandahar which is built around a rare afghan roseoil of very high quality. As the roseoil is avaible just for limited time periods, Rose de Kandahar will also be avaible in limited quantities and periods. Therefore true roselovers should test this beautiful rose now.
• Samples of Patricia de Nicolaïs Amber Oud and Rose Oud just arrived. Have just sniffing outside the vials but my impression is I'll not be dissapointed, on the  contrary, they smell delicious. Reviews will follow.
• In the current niche-hype: Don't forget all the good perfumes within "mainstream" such great classics (despite more or less reformulated) as Chanel Coco, YSL Opium, Guerlain Shalimar, Estee Lauder Youth Dew and Thierry Mugler Angel are perfect for warming up in dark and cold winterevenings (and days).
• Rumors on Basenotes says Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere will be repacked in the squared Coco Mademoiselle bottle and that some minor adjustments will be done in the formula. As tweaking with formulas when changing bottledesign is very common, it could be time to stock up with the current version for frequent users of Eau Premiere.
• When it comes to repacking: Parfums Annick Goutal has changed the bottle design (don't know about the formulas) during the year and discontinued some gems: Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille which is the best Goutal ever IMO, the perfect springfragrances Eau de Camille, Eau de Ciel and the cosy Le Mimosa. For Goutal fans it's time to stock up as the old (and cheaper) bottles soon are gone.
• A package of samples is an intriguing Christmas gift to most. Luckily Fragrance & Art and Riktig Parfym could support in such matters.

Puredistance - Black

Picture: Odette and Odile
Photo: City Ballet of San Diego (c)

A short break in the ongoing Guerlain-cavalcade as I feel I have to share my impressions of a new beautiful perfume: Puredistance Black is created by Antoine Lie for the top notch niche house Puredistance and will be released in November/December 2013. In the marketing blurb Puredistance ask us just to relax, enjoy and not analyze. Therefore the notelist is not disclosed which of course even more triggers a true parfumista to analyze what could be in that little sample vial.

It would be intriguing to know the notes and I hope Puredistance will disclose the notelist later on. I'm no "notepicker" but I think at least I smell as follows: To my nose Puredistance Black starts with a fine incense and some gentle spices, followed by a dark, ripe plummy note underscored with the woody notes of old oak cognacbarrels and a subtle oud. As the composition proceeds, it suddenly becomes colder and greener, I can smell what I think is pine balm, some traces of an almost fizzy geranium and some velvety, dark in the same time contemporary but clean patchouli over warm resins. On my skin Black goes from warm and dark notes to colder, greener even if still dark, dark like muffled mossgreen velvet worn in a cold, starry winter night.Further on in the second part of Black, the boozy, woody cognac notes appears again togehter with the dark plum, the fragrance gets warm, cozy and comforting in the later stages of the base. I pleasant, subtle smoky note (no harsh edges) also appears in the late dry down and together with the other notes, stays close to the skin for the rest of the dry down.

The vision of Puredistance Black is to be the dark and more masculine equivalent to the bright and light feminine I.  IMO this vision has been fullfilled, this is like Odile and Odette, resembling each other, beautiful and graceful, but in the same so time different in character. Both Black and I are subtle and refined fragrances, Black dark and mysterious, I bright and shining. Black also deliver on the promise to slowly unfold its layers and this proecess is continuing during the whole extended drydown, longevity is minimum 24h for me, when showering of the pefume after one days, it's still unfragmented and full in its texture..

Even if not particularly original as a composition, Puredistance Black is (as always with Puredistance) a very well made and wearable fragrance, of high quality ingredients and with good sillage and longevity. It's interesting to wear and a fragrance which wins in the long run. Black is definitly unisex even if lending slightly to the masculine side. The first part of the fragrance is more feminine than the second, Black becomes more masculine when the (which I guess is) pine and geranium notes appears. In it's third stage, where the warmer notes are re-appearing Black becomes more feminine again.  When it comes to resembling fragrances I think the first part contains elements from and reminds me in style of Serge Lutens Boxeuses (swe) (but without the leather and less sweet) and Annick Goutal  Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille (swe) but drier in texture than the latter. In the cooler part of the drydown I find traces of Robert Puguet Oud but Black is more gentle and quiet in style. Another fragrance which comes to my mind when wearing Puredistance Black is Donna Karan Black Cashmere and the great Le Parfum Couture Denis Durand for M.Micallef but clean, polished and well behaved in character compared to the dangerous latter.

Rating: 5

Notes: Not disclosed but woody oriental - see my guesses above.

Neela Vermeire Creations - Mohur Extrait

Photo: Mr Parfumista (c)

Mohur Extrait (or Espirit de Parfum) is the perfumeversion of Mohur in Edp which was one of the first three Neela Vermeire Creations in early 2012. The Extrait will, just as Ashoka, be launched soon.

I find the Mohur Extrait deeper and darker than the Mohur Edp. Mohur Edp is a bright medium pink rose to me, smooth, almost creamy, spicy and with some fizzy green notes. There is also a leathernote that reminds me slightly of tobbacco. The Extrait gives me the image of heavy silkvelvet in the color of dark purple with golden stiches and loads of roses in the same color, all surrounded by a smooth almost creamy saffron and other delicate spiced stored in smooth leather pouches. The leathernote in Extrait is darker and deeper than in the Edp.The woody notes of oud and sandalwood is gentle and not at all overpowering.  I can also smell a note or part of an accord that reminds me of Annick Goutal Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille (swe). Probably this is an effect of iris and violet interacting, underscored by dark deep notes, in Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille. patchouli and in Mohur Extrait oud. The Extrait has a retro vibe even if not as evident as in Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille. 

Picture: The matching bottle to the Mohur Extrait
Photo: PR Neela Vermeire Creations (c)

The Extrait, as the perfumestrength in general, is close to the skin wheras the Edp has more radiance. Longevity is good  about 12h in warm weather and as also the Edp, Mohur really blooms when the skin gets warmed. I think both are as good, they complement each other, one for the day and on for the night.  the Extrait is a perfect calming fragrance to sleep in, as it is also for festive evening occasions.  Mohur Extrait just as Mohur Edp is a must try for lovers of intricate oriental rosefragrances such as Guerlain Rose Nacree du Desert d'Orient.

Rating: 5 

Notes: Cardamom, coriander, ambrette, carrot seeds, pepper, elemi, iris, jasmine, rose, violet, almond, leather;sandalwood, amber, woody notes, patchouli, oud, benzoin, vanilla, tonka bean

The Neela Vermeire Creations are avaible here

Annick Goutal - Nuit Etoilée

Picture: Wildweibchen mit Einhorn,

Kissenplatte, Strassburg, October 1500,

Unknown author, Historisches Museum Basel,

Wikimedia commons

The latest creation from Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilée, created by the "house-nose" Isabel Doyen will be released later this spring. NE will capture the feeling of walking in the wild forest at night, the magical feel, the fresh minty herbs, moss and the whirls of dark, woody notes.

To me Nuit Etoilée doesn't mediate this impressions, on the contrary I get the image of a warm summernight in the asphalt jungle of a big city. NE starts with a citrusy note that for a very short while reminds of the beginning of The Different Companys chilly DeBachmakov. But very soon NE turns to be a warm fragrance, and stays warm during the whole dry down. A slight dusty jasmine note combined with mint comes forward and at this stage NE reminds me of a gentler version of Etat Libre d'Oranges Jasmin et Cigarettes. There is also a plastic note lurking in the background, but the note is not at all disturbing and fits in with the menthol cigarettes. The mint note is not as distinctive and sharp as in the mint-tea blend of Parfumerie Générale Harmatan Noir. In the basenotes a gentle balsamic firnote appears together with a quiet pine. But there is pine trees in urban surroundings, there is not the wooded, green, sharp- and freshness in the pinenotes as in for example Cacharel pour Homme.

When sampling NE it reminds me of another perfume that I can't identify at first. As NE achieved the middle- and basenotes it's all suddenly clear: NE is close to the transparent, light herbal, light spicy, flowery Turbulences by Révillon, early 2000 Edt-formula. The plastic, minty, cigarettenotes are there in both blends but Turbulences is more flowery, spicy as NE is more herbal, woody in character.

Nuit Etoilée is, according to the picture on the samplewrapper, botteld in beautiful, night dark blue bottles. The mens squarish bottle with it's dark label is the most beautiful. But unfortunately the juice (to me) doesn't quite lives up to the beauty of the blue bottles. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the blend but after the releases of the masterpiece Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille and the distinctive, sappy green beauty Ninfeo Mio I have far higher expectations than NE can deliver. Of course I'm also affected by the fact that I perceive Turbulences during almost the whole drydown of NE.

To summarize: NE is a good perfume but it doesn't stand out among the Goutals, but compared to most mainstream releases it definitly does.NE is a very wearable perfume, foremost in spring and summer. It is classified as an unisex fragrance and I think it's the right classificationas it seems to fit both genders equal.

Update June 2012: Nuit Etoilée is one of those fragrances that grows over time, sniffed it now and then during the latest months, I have learnt to appreciate NE much more then before. In particular I'm appreciating the minty-cigarette-smoky-note which resembles the cigarette-smoky note in my favorite Carner Barcelona fragrance D600.

Rating: 3+   Updated rating June 2012: 4+ .Rating July 2012: 5 This one just grows better with time :-)

Notes: Citrus, orange, peppermint, angelica, imortelle, fir balsam, pine, tonka.

Thanks to Parfums Annick Goutal for the sample to review.

Serge Lutens – Chypre Rouge

Photo: Mr Parfumista (c)

Chypre Rouge created by Christopher Sheldrake 2006 is a contemporary interpretation on the classical, dark-fruity chypre theme. The fragrance starts unconventional with a topnotes loaded with cranberrynote followed by delicate notes of incense and a note similar to cumin over a base of mossy notes and some traces of incense. The dimmed incense is the note that is still there in the end of the dry down of Chypre Rouge. There is strangely also a note that reminds me of a crisp lily in the mix. I do not find Chypre Rouge particulary sweet, a common objection in reviews of the fragrance. 

Chypre Rouge is in similar style with Rochas Femme, which contains much more cumin and Annick Goutals Mon Parfum Cheri par Camille which instead is patchouli dominated but those fragrances are more distinct in appearance. Compared to them Chypre Rouge seems a little weak, with it’s lower projection and as the scent seems to fall apart fairly quickly. But Chypre Rouge  is a good alternative to the wearer who want to make a soft and smooth but in the same time uncommon olfactory statement. It’s an office friendly scent that don’t interfere with anybody (almost). Best suited to wear during the colder months.

Rating: 3

Notes: Caraway, pine tree needles, honey, beewax, jasmine, amber, patchouli, oakmoss, musk, vanilla

Montale - Dark Purple

Picture: Still-Life with Bouquet of Flowers and Plums,

Painting by Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750)

Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, Wikimedia commons

Montales Dark Purple created by Pierre Montale 2011 is somehow, even if it's not a dark, fruity chypre but instead a floral oriental, Montales answer to Annick Goutals Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille. Dark Purple starts in the typical bold Montale style and also remains bold during the rather linear dry down. The fragrance starts peppery, with some similarities to Dark Oud even if oud ist not mentioned among the ingredients of Dark Purple it's probably there. Then a dark plummy note glimpse, but the plum is not as deep, compex and wellrounded as in Mon Parfum Cheri..., in Dark Purple the plum is more flat and one dimensional. Dark Purple also contains a good dose of green and sparkling geranium paired with rose, to my nose a bit similar to the geranium hefty Oud Flowers. The patchouli in Dark Purple is not as predominant as in Mon Parfum Cheri...and it's of the contemporary, clean, stripped type and not the deep, dirty vintagelike patch in Mon Parfum Cheri...The rose together with geranium and musk, with an unobtrusive impact of plum, is what remains as the dominating accord as Dark Purple settles in the basenotes. In this stage Dark Purple is also reminiscent with Montales Roses Musk and this stage lasts and lasts as the truestyled Montale this fragance is.

Dark Purple is a perfume true to the Montale style and is a good choice for the colder seasons. But as it's similar to many other Montales there is no need for this if one's parfumewardrobe already contains some of the heftier ones. But for a perfumerbuyer just entering the world of Montale, Dark Purple is a good alternative in the heavier group especially to the wearer that don't like oud as a predominant note.

Rating: 4

Notes: Orange, plum, geranium, patchouli, rose, red berries, teak wood, amber, musk

Best of 2011

Photo: Mr Parfumista (c)

Can't belive 2011 is almost over and it's once again time for the "Best of the year" list. By that I mean the best releases of the year, perfumes that I discovered this year but was launched earlier therefore not qualify.

To me 2011 was a quite good perfumeyear with several great releases from perfumehouses in both the niche- and designerfragrance categories. Of course I have only tested a small part of the thousends of releases on the market, but from what I have tested, here are my favourites of 2011:

There are two fragrances that shares the first place:

De Profundis (Serge Lutens): I instantly fell in love with this purple, green, serious creation with it's notes of wilting lilys and chrysantemum, lightened up by some inscense. To  my nose a very special creation that stands out from the crowd. See my review here (in swedish).

Les Nombres d'Or Oud (Mona di Orio): My other number one was on the contrary not instant love. Used to the strong Montale ouds I underapplied this the first times, but when I splashed some more on the miracle occurred: This multifaceted, woody, soft flowery, quality creation creates a peaceful aura around the lucky wearer. A perfume to relax and to dream with. Just as Mona di Orio wanted with her beautiful compositions. See my review here.

Other favorites:

Jeux de Peau (Serge Lutens): This bred and butter over a sandalwood base (like Santal Blanc) I fell for immediately. This one makes me hungry.

Week-End à Deauville (Parfums de Nicolaï): Sunny and bright lily of the vally shines in contrast to a dark green and mossy background. Retro, casual, chic in a nutshell. See my review here (in swedish).

Body (Burberry): This bold, creamy, rosy, flowery, early nineties-like creation is a true and lovely comfortscent. Perfect for grey and gloomy days. See my review here (in swedish).

Chanel no 19 Poudre: I think this is a beautiful, flowery iris on a jasmine and light orangeflower background grounded by a beautiful, light, musc that together with the iris blooms on my skin more then twelve hours after application. Can't understand different perfumesnobbish comments about Poudre as a inferior creation that collapses after the topnotes dried down. See my review here (in swedish).

Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille (Annick Goutal): Just loooove this, dark, retro, dusty, murky, earthy, plum-patch perfume. Smells somehow of old books in a long forgotten library mixed with lipstick and powder.. See my review here (in swedish).

Azemour Les Orangers (Parfum d'Empires): Orange, green and mossy notes, Azemour shows that it is still possible to create fragrances in the vein of the citrus-chypre classics of the seventies. Just great. See my review here.

Les Nombres d'Or Vétyver (Mona di Orio): Another beautiful green but here vetiver accentuated by ginger. Like Azemour above, Vétyver gives me the impression of the green fragrances of the seventies and just as Azemour, but in a different way, Vétyver reminds me of a less soapier Eau de Rochas.

Also to be mentioned 2011: L'Esprit d'Oscar (Oscar de la Renta),  Cuir Fetiche (Maître Parfumeur et Gantier), Chambre Noir (Olfactive Studio), Shalimar Initial (Guerlain), Candy (Prada), Myrrhiad (Huitieme Art).

Goutalvecka

Foto: Herr Parfumista (c)

För ett par dagar sedan avslutade jag min temavecka i Annick Goutal. Efter att i förra veckan blivit nedstämd och bedrövad vid provning av Serge Lutens makabra De Profundis, review följer men vid en mer passande tidpunkt som Allhelgonahelgen, bara måste jag muntra upp mig rejält. Inget kan väl passa bättre som humörhöjare än Annick Goutals fina, rena och klara dofter. För att få en rejäl kontrast inledde jag tema AG med:

Ninfeo Mio: Ninfeo är nog min största AG favorit. Den illusterar perfekt den skuggiga näckrosdamm i en gammal romersk park som den är inspirerad av. Citrus, lime, gröna noter, nässlig, trä och en blomnot som bara anas men som påminner om Tuberose. Det är kanske därför jag associerar Ninfeo Mio till L'Artisans Nuit de Tubereuse.

Un Matin d'Orage: UMdO var jag inte så jätteförtjust i från början men det är en doft som jag tycker mer och mer om. Doften förmedlar verkligen intrycket av en trädgård som vaknar upp i solsken morgonen efter ovädret, den höga klara, spritsiga, luften, det våta gräset och doften av blommor och blad som slagits ned av regnet.Review: http://parfumistansblogg.blogspot.com/search/label/Un%20Matin%20d%27Orage

Gardenia Passion: Jag hittar främst tuberose i denna fina, vita blomdoft. Finns stråk som påminner om den grönkrispiga tuberosen i Carnal Flower. GP är för mig en rätt klassisk tuberosedominerad doft, inte så särskilt originell.

Songes: Är verkligen som en tropisk dröm. Förmedlar en tropisk fuktighet och värme. Frangipanin är extra tydlig på mig och doftspåret varar länge efter det att jag lämnat rummet. Songes är också en AG som jag uppskattar alltmer.

Grand Amour: Tillhör liksom Gardenia Passion de klassiska AG:s som skapades medan Annick fortfarande var i livet. Aldehydisk hyacint och lilja, tät och lite metallisk i tonen men ändå varm, speciell. Vissa noter påminner om  Serge Lutens Bas de Soie fast BdS är kall i karaktären.

Passion: En av de allra första doftern från AG. Blommor på gränsen till att vara överblommade och noter av undervegetation i en krämig känsla. Påminner i stilen om Vivienne Westwood Boudoir och DelRaes Amoureuse minus kardemumman.

Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille: Den senaste mörkt, fruktiga, chypreliknande iris-plommon-patchoulli parfymen var en värdig avslutning på AG kavalkaden. En kommande klassiker och en av de bästa dofterna 2011. Review i föregående inlägg.

Dofterna från Annick Goutal är verkliga humörhöjare samtidigt som jag kan njuta av välkomponerade och intressanta teman utan att behöva analysera till uttröttning. En AG vecka gör jag gärna om.

Annick Goutal - Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille

Bild: Deutsche Schwertlilie (Iris germanica),

Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1897

Wikimedia Commons

Annick Goutals senaste doft, Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille är skapad av Annicks dotter Camille som en hyllning till sin framlida mor. Annick lät på sin tid skapa Eau de Camille till sin dotter och Eau de Charlotte till sin styvdotter så visst är det dags för en ordentlig hyllning av Annick. För MPC är det, precis som med Songes för några år sedan, Camille själv som har skapat formulan med input från Annick Goutals husnäsa sedan decennier, den formidabla Isabelle Doyen. Annars brukar rollerna vara ombytta.

MPC inleds med mörka, kittiga läppstiftsnoter kombinerade med mörka lagom mogna plommon. Ju mer MCP torkar ned, ju mer övergår plommonnoten till doften av färskt torkat katrinplommon dvs doften när man precis öppnar en påse. Det finns samtidigt en kall not irisnot som är på något sätt blir torrt lädrig. Det är inte den typiska, morotslika irisrotsnoten utan något som mer ger association till själva blomman.  I basen finns en mycket fint blandad och perfekt balanserad patchoulli som i kombination med en lagom mängd heliotrope, och tror jag sandelträ, ger en chyprekänsla även om ekmossan saknas. MCP förtjänar det numera nästan uttjatade epitetet "modern chype" som sätts på allahanda blandningar.

MCP ger mig associationer till en perfekt skuren pälsbärmad kashmirkappa. Den ger också känslan av luften och dofterna en grå och kall höstdag. Den mörka purpurfärgen på flaskan speglar på ett bra sätt den eleganta och vilsamma aura som MPC förmedlar. Det är en modern retrodoft som förenar histrien med nuet. Doften påminner mig främst om Rochas Femme men utan kumminnoterna i den moderna formulan.

MCP kan bäras både dag- och kvällstid, men det anser jag i och för sig om det mesta. Provet är EDT versionen och jag kan tänka mig att EDP:n är tätare och mer kvällsbetonad. EDT:n håller ganska bra långt in på kvällen.

MPC är en doft som visar att det trots alla ingrediensrestriktioner ändå finns gott hopp om parfymkonsten. En av årets klart bästa releaser.

Betyg: 5

Noter: Plommon, iris, viol, heliotrope, patchoulli,

Snart dags för höstens dofter

Rent olifactoriskt, men självklart inte annars, längtar jag redan till hösten. I väntan på att luktsinnet ska återvända har jag drömt mig bort bland kommande eller alldeles nya releaser. Och jag inser redan att hösten kommer att innebära flera svåra val och att den kan bli dyr. Det finns tyvärr alltför mycket intressant. Som:

Jag går helt i spinn över Mona di Orios kommande lanseringar i sin Les Nombres d'Or - serie: Oud som tydligen ska använda äkta oud till skillnad får de flesta andra som huvudsakligen använder syntetisk oud. Mona har parat ouden med osmanthus istället för som i normalfallet, ros. Tydligen en limiterad utgåva så prislappen lär inte vara nådig! Utöver ouden så lanseras tre andra dofter: Vétyver, Tubéreuse och Vanille: Eftersom jag är mer än förtjust i Monas stil och älskar tuberose och har en stark dragning mot vanlij så kan det bli otroligt jobbigt. Vetiver är inte min starka not, däremot herr Parfumistas.

Utöver Monas releaser, så finns fler frestelser som Annick Goutals Mon Parfum Cheri, par Camille med noter av plommon, viol och patchoulli har jag kapitulerat för bara av beskrivningen. Sedan är det Serge Lutens/Christopher Sheldrakes Vitriol d'Oeillet som pockar på uppmärksamhet. Doften baseras på rosa nejlika och även om nejlika inte är min favoritnot så är jag ganska säker på att den i SL/CS blir något extraordinärt. Sedan fruktar jag att By Kilans avslutande dofter i sin Arabian Nights kollektion en med mysk och en med ambra har premiär i höst.

Även på designerdoftssidan händer ovanligt mycket intressant: Chanel No 19 Poudre som ska vara en modern tolkning av underbara No 19 är jag minst sagt ivrig att testa. Både Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere och Cristalle Eau Verte var lyckade dofter inspirerade av respektive klassiker så allt talar för Poudre. Sedan kommer Prada med en intressant avvikelse från sin hittills strikta, minimalistiska stil: Candy som ska vara en pudrig mysk med godisnoter, gjord av högkvalitativa ingredienser i en ny balans. Låter intressant med tanke på att Prada inte brukar ge ut något skräp. Sedan lockar Oscar de la Rentas Esprit d'Oscar som ska vara en modern tolkning av den klassiska Oscar som jag tyckte så mycket om på det glada åttiotalet men som sedan degenererats genom reformulering.

Det ser alltså ut att bli en tuff höst för både näsa och plånbok. Vilka dofter ser du fram emot att prova?