Missk

Penhaligon's Artemisia is a fragrance that I can only describe as soft, feminine and clean. I can see why so many women adore this fragrance, as it is full of charm and elegance.

I hesitate to classify this fragrance as soapy, so I'll stick with clean. The creamy vanilla accord stops it from becoming too predictable, and what a relief it is that this fragrance is more than just 'shower fresh'. It goes to show that clean doesn't always have to be plain and boring.

Penhaligon's Artemisia is a perfume that I feel extremely comfortable wearing, so I whole-heartedly recommend this fragrance to just about any woman, even those that shy away from anything too loud and obtrusive. As inoffensive as it may appear to be, that's not to say that you won't stand out in a crowd. While testing this fragrance, my boyfriend had many positive things to say about it, so I'd assume that men enjoy its scent.

I really love Penhaligon's classic approach and style. It is something to be admired, even if it is very British. They have a knack for florals, and compose them so beautifully that they suit almost any occasion. Penhaligon's Artemisia is a scent that you could wear all year round.

Other than having a dominant blend of crisp white musk and creamy vanilla, Penhaligon's Artemisia also has a soft, powdery violet note and a hint of sweet jasmine and sandalwood in the base. I see that some reviewers are complaining that the longevity is poor, well I'm just adding my two cents, but I found the lasting strength quite impressive, lasting well over six hours on my skin.

Originally Written: August 19, 2012.

I have really enjoyed wearing Bazar pour Homme, so much so that I've worn it twice. There's something really enticing about the combination of lavender with citrus accords. As a woman, I am often impressed whenever a man wears a fragrance with a good dose of lavender. Despite its soothing feel, it's also very masculine and in some ways, sexy.

Bazar pour Homme opens with a sharp, zesty burst of grapefruit and a crisp, herbaceous lavender accord. At first it smells very fresh and invigorating on the skin, like something best suited to Spring and Summer. Once settled, Bazar pour Homme becomes much smoother with a hint of creamy sandalwood and fir.

Perhaps my nose is playing tricks on me, but I swear I can detect a subtle hint of cinnamon somewhere in this fragrance's composition. It tends to smell rather warm and sweet after a while, making it an excellent choice for all seasons.

I don't know whether or not this fragrance and its female counterpart, Bazar pour Femme have been discontinued indefinitely. While they're not easy fragrances to find, I do occasionally stumble upon them in duty free stores and small pharmacies from time to time.

While Bazar pour Homme is not as original as Bazar pour Femme, I love them both equally. Despite being marketed for men, I find this fragrance easily unisex and urge any woman to try it. Other than smelling fantastic, extra bonuses include incredible longevity and moderate sillage.

Originally Written: August 19, 2012.

Simply by Clinique is quite an odd little scent, one that I'm not surprised to discover has been discontinued. Somehow I feel as if it's a hard one to please.

Personally I applaud its unique and daring approach, even though I may not be a huge fan of soy beans and their accompanying scent. If I were not aware of Clinique Simply's dominant soy bean accord, I may have mistaken it for a green and slightly dry take on licorice.

On the skin this fragrance has the tendency to turn a little bitter. However, when blended with the right skin chemistry, Clinique Simply can smell quite pleasant in all its bitterness. With a light application, it also shows some promise in regards to being worn as a natural skin scent.

I know many perfume friends of whom mourn the loss of Clinique Simply. I'm rather surprised that I have managed to track down a bottle of this fragrance in a Duty Free store recently. I had thought it was long gone.

I wasn't game enough to test this fragrance on my skin, in fear of it becoming a scrubber in a matter of seconds. It's not really my cup of tea, but I can appreciate it for what it is. I would recommend Clinique Simply for wear during Spring and Autumn. Essentially it's perfect for those mid-seasons.

Other than soy beans, Clinique Simply also has prominent accords of green melon and a hint of unsweetened milk. The longevity is fantastic.

Originally Written: August 06, 2012.

Bazar by Christian Lacroix is a fascinating and unique fragrance. It dares to be different, allowing the wearer to stand out in a crowd. For that reason alone, I am quite smitten.

The first time I tested this fragrance, I immediately pictured carrots. I could have sworn that there was a carrot seed accord in Bazar, because for the first few hours, it was all that I could smell. The carrot-like scent is actually a blend of peach, nasturcia and pepper. Interesting combination I must say.

Some reviewers are calling this fragrance fresh. Although it's perfectly suitable for warm days, I wouldn't call it particularly refreshing or crisp. It's oddly green and warm like a ray of sunshine. Seeming that it also smells a little bit like juicy carrot sticks, I guess you could call it vegetal too. I find it a little similar to Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermes.

Towards the heart and drydown, Bazar becomes quite peppery and spicy on the skin. Although a touch sharp, once your nose becomes accustomed, you'll find the scent growing on you. Honestly, I didn't like Bazar at first, but since my second wearing, I'm beginning to discover many lovable aspects.

I like the name Bazar, I think it explains the bizarre nature of this composition well. I only hope that the male version is just as daring.

The sillage is fairly strong but never overpowering. I guess the same could be said of the longevity. I am highly impressed by this fragrance, and am even more delighted by the fact that I scored a sample of Bazar on Ebay for ninety cents. Talk about a bargain!

Originally written: July 29, 2012.

Poup`ee by Rochas is a fragrance worth discovering. It is often overlooked as it's not the most popular Rochas scent, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It is one of those fragrances which should appeal to people with diverse taste.

Poup`ee tends to have two distinct phases throughout the composition. The first part is a buttery white floral which later fades into part two, an uplifting and frivolous pineapple scent.

In some ways Poup`ee caters to all those in favour of white florals and fruity florals. I found it both fascinating and perhaps a little odd that it opened with tuberose and gardenia and dried down to pineapple. Usually, in a scent pyramid, these notes would be the other way around.

Buttery tuberose can sometimes be a struggle to wear in terms of skin chemistry and seasons. Some may feel put off right from the very beginning, especially since it struck me as a youthful, lighter and fresher version of Robert Piguet's Fracas. Do not fear. Once the pineapple accord makes itself known, the tuberose isn't as noticeable.

Personally, I find Poup`ee unique and incredibly pleasing. I'm not a massive fan of pineapple, as I don't like its acidic nature, but in Poup`ee it's tolerable. I am very glad to have given this fragrance a fair chance.

I would say that the longevity is good and the sillage soft, but not weak. It is best suited to wear during Spring and Summer, and the occasional Autumn days. I recommend.

Originally written: July 28, 2012.