Coutureguru

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow fragrance junkie, I own a 30ml bottle of this discontinued beauty. Some may lift their noses to a simple Body Shop frag, but for me the provenance (generally) is secondary to the smell … and this smells great!

The leafy and somewhat bitter opening reminds a touch of Grey Flannel, before a riot of freshly rained upon flowers starts singing their lovely chorus … wet earth included. Actually, the faint damp soil aspect of this fragrance is what makes it so attractive. It feels grounded and natural … with lots of Muguet and aquatic Jasmine leading the way to a fresh Rose and Peony duo. I've no idea what Cyclamen smells like so I can't comment on that.
The downside of Velique is the irritating White Musk in the dry down … but there is enough wood in the base to smooth out its characteristic (at least to my nose) sharp, laundry detergent edges. I'm not a fan of Musk in general, but I do understand its usage as a fixative. In correct proportion I find it bearable … particularly here.
The problem with fragrances like these (let's call them limited releases) from outfits like Body Shop and L'Occitane is that they are around for a season or two and then become discontinued, making it almost impossible to fall in love with them lest they cannot be bought anymore, save from Ebay where sharks live … teehee.

I really like Velique so I am going to use up my windfall of 30mls with a 'c'est la vie' attitude … perfume, after all, is made for wearing!!

Think lycra shorts, cropped tops seductively draped to expose a shoulder shimmering with body glitter, impossible platform boots and teased hair and what comes rushing out of a bottle of Halston Night is the most impish Disco Diva you can imagine!

I'm a child of the 80's … when I look back at photos of my teenage years I grimace … and then I smile … and then I laugh delightedly at the abandon of it all! What a time of utter excess … it was just incredible! Halston Night encapsulates the feeling of those days in a few sprays!
This fragrance is a big, rich, creamy oriental base with bits and pieces of florals and citruses raising a loud voice every now and then. I've no doubt that the sample I am testing from is vintage and Halston Night is all about massive 'in-your-face-ness'. It's wonderful!! There is richness here … it is dense … emanating in never ending waves of flashing disco lights and thumping music!! This is the smell of shoulder pads and blue eyeshadow … drape trouser suits and the Hustle.
There is very little point in trying to analyse the note structure here … it's just one big mashup of fabulousness … spicy florals, tons of powder, vanillic creaminess … big and bold like the decade it belongs to!!

What a pity that such gems are relegated to the graveyard of perfume history. Find some of this if you can and " … feel loooove …" ...

The idiotic title I've given this review is simply a flight of fancy that my brain jumped to while I was doing a little research on 'Jacinthe' … or Hyacinth :). It's the title of a song I used to rehearse to years ago, back when I was a dancer. Hyacinths remind me of spiky lollipops … ergo 'lollipops and roses' …

For some reason I had always assumed that hyacinths were water plants, like lotuses, never having had much to do with fragrances containing this note. Surprisingly, they are bulbous flowers and were once classified with lilies … which, upon smelling Coudray's Jacinthe et Rose, makes complete sense.

I am faintly reminded of Cartier's Baiser Vole upon applying my nose to the back of my right hand, where this little gem currently resides, wafting gorgeous powder and roses in the direction of my nose as I type.
Apparently, Jacinthe is an orange coloured variety of hyacinth … and the top notes here pulse brilliantly with that colour. I assume this is to impart a 'sunniness' to the composition and to me it's the fading light of an orange and pink sunset … soft and glowing. Mature Roses take centre stage soon after … the languid kind of Rose heated by a day full of blistering sun, giving up the last of her deep essence to the fast approaching evening. This is my favourite time of day … when the sun has gone but the sky is still a riot of pink, peach and gold. The solid but serene woody base here, is simply a pedestal for the lingering Rose to be laid upon.

As you can tell dear reader, by the way I am forced to write, Jacinthe et Rose inspires romantic wanderings and would be the perfect scent for sundowners in a gazebo, watching the day slowly fade to night.

Technically I shouldn't like this fragrance … berries (fruit, my nemesis in many a frag) and musk!?!? I should be running for the hills … instead, I bought this beauty immediately after trying it yesterday in the Duty Free at Abu Dhabi International. It's just gorgeous!!

I had always been led to believe that Guerlain's AA range were very watery, more like body mists than Eaux de Toilette. Wrong!! I also tried new Limon Verde, which smells like spilled caipirinha (but in such a good way!!) and Neroli Bianca , which I fell in love with and will be buying on my return journey!

Flora Rosa opens with a jolt of Pink Grapefruit to my nose … I know it's not listed but I'd lay my head on a block that it's there! I may just be smelling the tartness of sour berries but the citric nature of the opening is undeniable! Thankfully, this 'berry' opening is not very fruity and sets a beautiful stage for a sublime Rose and Iris chord to develop calmly.
These are not red roses, they are more pink and white … subtle and reminiscent of Tea Rose … building in grandeur as if one were adding freshly cut roses to a vase individually over a period of time, enjoying the intensity of them as more and more blooms fill the air with their scent.
The faintest hint of Iris adds a cosmetic touch to the composition, giving it a slightly retro feel … lipstick-y if you will.
The (undoubtedly) White Musk that this fragrance contains is blessedly subdued by the Roses and seems to act as a fixative … more of it would have rendered this fragrance unwearable to me.
Sadly Aqua Allegoria Flora Rosa is a 'travel exclusive', making it tough to find unless one travels via large International airports frequently. It hardly makes sense that something so lovely from Guerlain would be made almost impossible to buy!

If you enjoy fresh Rose fragrances and have the opportunity of getting your hands on this I wouldn't hesitate for a second. Highly recommended as a blind buy for Rose lovers … if you don't travel, find someone who does!

Yesterday was such a fun day! I arrived in England (as I try to once a year for the Ballroom Champs in Blackpool) and as my flight landed in Manchester really early and I could only book into my hotel in Blackpool in the afternoon, I met up with an internet fragrance buddy and spent a delightful afternoon over a long lunch and two bottles of wine! The lovely 'J' surprised me with a goodie bag overflowing with samples and FB's, including a sample of this one which I am trying this morning.

This is my very first encounter with a Brosius creation and I must admit that I am a little lukewarm to it. Not having anything else from this house to go on I am probably being prematurely harsh, but the first thing that sprang to mind upon applying M1 Narcissus was " Oh … is that it?".
Even more baffling is that fact that it leaves a strong oily residue on my skin, which would lead one to believe that this should be really strong. Unfortunately it isn't. M1 Narcissus is a very mild mannered and timid little floral which hovers about a centimetre above the skin in a bashful sort of way … keeping its beauty hidden, or so to speak.
What there is of this fragrance is charming … a lovely green-ness, wet stones and the sweetness of Narcssus smiling through, but it is definitely something that is going to be for one's personal enjoyment. No one is going to comment on this as there is minimal projection here. I am all for fragrances that only I can enjoy … but at some point I am a bit of an attention whore too, and love it when someone comments on the way I smell without having to stick their nose in my neck. On second thoughts, I like people sticking their noses into my neck too LOL.

I doubt that I would ever buy a bottle of this, but I am enjoying sampling it. If you work in a perfume-phobic environment then this one is definitely for you … no one around you will realise that you have it on!