Fragrance Junkie Central

[Mochapj]

I know there are a few of us on BT that are fragrance addicts, so I thought it would be nice to have a dedicated place where we can share our thoughts.

This is not to take away from the lovely What Are You Wearing Today, Fragrance Edition thread, but more a place to post longer reviews, chat about new brands or releases, and just shoot the breeze on anything good and smelly 🙂

For me, I recently acquired 2 new decants that I've been anxiously awaiting.  Ever since Lachaton mentioned that MMM was releasing a new scent called By The Fireplace I've been itching to get my hands on it.  My decant arrived yesterday, so I'm looking forward to marinating in it this weekend.  Secondly, I recently picked up a tiny sample of Shiseido Nombre Noir.  Supposedly it is one of the most expensive failures in perfume history - made by Serge Lutens for Shiseido back in the 80s.  Of course, with a backstory like that, I was dying to get a sniff 😄

What's new on your scent radar?  Do tell!

 

[Libellules]

(Sorry, BT won't let me reply to my last thread)

DANCING ON THE MOON

Imagine the defiance: a lone dancer robed in white swirls gracefully across the dark side of the moon beneath a spotlight, their ethereal moves casting pale shadows on the lunar landscape. In one hand a bouquet of opalescent white flowers shines with a mineral glow. 

Composition

Dancing on the Moon is a bright and powdery fragrance that balances an immediate lift of aldehydes and moonflower notes with an explosion of natural white jasmine flower. As the perfume evolves, the infusion of warmer notes of ambergris, musk and vanilla round out the fragrance’s creamy heart whilst accentuating its crisp minerality. The result is an unapologetically optimistic scent that surges with harmonious counterpoints of floral and mineral elements, for a truly unexpected trip. 

Notes (pulled from Barney's, where this is available for purchase): 

• Top: Aldehyde, Moonflower
• Middle: Sambac Jasmine, Frangipani Tree, Iris
• Base: Cashmeran, Accord of Ambergris, Musk

[pocketvenus]

Thanks so much for sharing all these pics and notes! I admit I was a bit disappointed by Replica's original releases because I was expecting something more cerebral (like the brand’s clothes). These four sound like they're trying to appeal a little more to the niche fragrance market; I hope the fragrances turn out to be more risk taking.

Dancing on the Moon sounds promising... Flying sounds a little odd, it’s both a “sunny” and “icy” chypre lol?

[Libellules]

There is a 4th that is (to me) much less exciting lol.

FLYING

What else but the impossible? The human desire to fly remains definitively out of reach: an ultimate high that thrill-seekers everywhere aim to capture for a split second of ecstasy. It is a blast of icy fresh air, like Icarus - too close to the sun. Dare to escape gravity (from hot air balloon to hang glider) and embark on an epic adventure in the sky.

Composition

Flying is Maison Margiela’s aromatic ‘trompe l’oeil’ – an airy citrus cologne with the endurance and structure of an Eau de Parfum. Built on a crisp, seductive base of musk, moss, and an aerial accord, this chypre-style fragrance peaks with svelte notes of bergamot, orange absolute and neroli blossoms through a heart of almond and ylang-ylang. This fresh, sunny scent reaches atmospheric new heights – wings not included.  

Notes (Again pulled from Barney's, where all of these are currently available)

• Top: Bergamot Essence, Petit Grain Essence, Orange Flower Absolute
• Middle: Almond Flower, Ylang Ylang Essence, Neroli Bigarade Essence
• Base: Musk, Moss, Arial Accord

[Libellules]

Found more info!

ACROSS SANDS

Be seduced by the road less travelled: enter the mirage and perhaps you will find an extra-terrestrial oasis. Fruits and flowers bloom amongst the dunes, thriving in the dry heat and the endless expanses of desert. As night falls on the caravan trail, merchants tell dangerous tales of the Silk route - their words shrouded in mystery and darkness. 

Composition

Across Sands celebrates the Oriental tradition of a daring ‘oud’ fragrance softened with warm earthy notes of dates and cinnamon. The suave, fruity concoction is lifted with liquorice, osmanthus and divana flowers on the deep woody base of oud, patchouli and incense. This heady cocktail of spices evokes an otherworldly mysticism for a voyage into the undulating hills of one’s imagination.

Notes (pulled from Barney's, where this is available for purchase):

• Top: Blackcurrant buds, Pimiento berries, Moss Accord
• Middle: Cistus Concrete, Sap Accord, Fir Balsam
• Base: Incense Oil, Patchouli Oil, Indonesia Atlas, Cedarwood Oil

Funny, I don't see Oud.

[wheeeee]

Where is the Oud???  Love oud!

A Typo????  Same description as Soul of the Forest.

@Libellules

[Mochapj]

From Fragrantica @Libellules @wheeeee

Across Sands by Maison Martin Margiela is a Woody Spicy fragrance for women and men. This is a new fragrance. Across Sands was launched in 2016. The fragrance features agarwood (oud), dates and spices.

[Libellules]

@wheeeee I think Barney's messed up...

[wheeeee]

yes!  This is what I was telling you.  A typo.  

I am reading scrolling down and thought the same.....Where is the Oud?

Then I read Forest next and saw it.  

[KMariel]

New Margiela Replica scents

[Libellules]

@veronika23

SOUL OF THE FOREST

The spirits of nature belong to some of mankind’s oldest mythologies. Does the forest have a soul: a dryad skipping through the trees, perhaps? An invisible presence vibrating in the very peripheries of our human awareness? Shapeless, silent, and untouchable, the soul of the forest sings a soft melody of tree song, tasting of the sweet sap of the gods. 

Composition

Fresh and vivacious, Soul of the Forest is a bright and aromatic green fragrance resplendent with lively notes of sap and vetiver. Lifted by a sprinkling of spicy and sweet top notes from fruity blackcurrant to pimiento berries, its woody heart is rounded by the leafy twigs of ‘cistus concrete’ and fir balsam in harmony with base notes of Atlas cedarwood, incense, and patchouli. Rooted in an earthy, vegetal sweetness vibrating between sap and bark, this verdant fragrance personifies the forest - instilled with all its natural, woody depth. 

Notes (pulled from Barney's, where this is available for purchase):

• Top: Blackcurrant buds, Pimiento berries, Moss Accord
• Middle: Cistus Concrete, Sap Accord, Fir Balsam
• Base: Incense Oil, Patchouli Oil, Indonesia Atlas, Cedarwood Oil

[veronika23]

Thanks @Libellules I read they came out Sept 26th??? I wonder if Sephora will be getting these. @candacebt @KatieBT do you know?

[Libellules]

@veronika23 Last year's releases (By the Fireplace was one of them) started as Barney's exclusives. They did eventually become available at Sephora, but I believe that it took several months.

[veronika23]

@Libellules thanks for the info!

[veronika23]

ohhhh soul of the forest!!!

[Libellules]

Oh YAY! Across Sands sounds most promising! I'm seriously curious about Dancing on the Moon O.O

[lachaton]

Interesting!! I'm intrigued by these 😄 

[lisainprogress]

I found the thread I was looking for!! 🙂

So I'm planning to purchase my first Byredo. Does anyone have recommendations? I never sample from the brand, but I've been trying to compare the notes to other fragrances that I like. Are there any fragrances inside Sephora that are similar to the Byredo ones? Wished I lived closer to a store that carries the brand! Honestly feel like choosing between Mojave Ghost and Gypsy Water. 

I'm currently using Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt. Usually I just wear my current favorite until I get sick of it. I think the last fragrance that I really liked was Daisy Dream.

[pocketvenus]

Both Mohave Ghost and Gypsy Water are easy to wear, slightly ambery-sweet, modern fragrances but I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Daisy Dream so I can't make a comparison.

A lot of the Byredos have a velvety, mellow texture to me despite the “cleanliness” of their scents - think canned peaches - and Mohave Ghost has that fleshy density to it. This is in spite of the peppery notes (peppers, juniper berries, spices) you'll see in many of their frags. There's no textured, piquant burning like Luten's Bapteme de Feu or the fizzy sparkle of Malle's Angelique Sous La Pluie for example.

If you like MG and GW, definitely try the new release Unnamed, which has a similar, sweetish floral vibe. I’d also recommend Baudelaire for the same kind of muted sweetness, but if you’d like something darker/edgier.

One word of warning: I'd test the fragrances on your skin for performance. When considering the price tag, some Byredos do not last long enough on me - they die down to a skin scent within the hour, it can be disappointing. I've read online that others have had this experience. Of course, how someone else's skin chemistry holds a scent may be different!

[lisainprogress]

Thank you @pocketvenus 

I definitely like lighter easy to wear fragrances. Pretty sensitive to smell, so I don't like anything overpowering. I'm positive I feel this way because I remember my father always douse himself in cologne. Even now he still does it. 

I was considering Unnamed, but maybe somewhere down the line I'll purchase it. Thanks again!!

[pocketvenus]

You're most welcome and good luck!

[Tamara76]

I love, love, love Mojave Ghost!!!!!!  Just bought a full sized bottle during the Barney's Love Yourself Event.

Mojave Ghost very slightly reminds me of Daisy, but it has a cleaner, more powdery and musky scent.  I really pick up the magnolia scent, too - it reminds me a lot of the magnolia tree my neighbor used to have in his front yard - he brought it here from Louisiana in a little bucket over 50 years ago and raised it with love because his wife was homesick after they moved here.  My neighbors and the tree are all long gone now, but that story was so sweet and I think about it whenever I smell magnolia.

I bought Mojave Ghost based on samples I received during the spring Barney's event.  The only other fragrance I've tried from Byredo is Rose of No Man's land, which is also very nice, but I'm not really a rose scent girl.