CuirCuir

I do have one favorite Lalique scent and it's not Encre Noire... Absolutely unique perfume with 3 dominant notes. Lemon leaf provides freshness, tamarind is for subtle and pleasant fruitiness and white pepper as the last touch to make it totally unique. It's best in summer and very versatile: office or casual year-round, no problem. Bottle looks great as is the norm with Lalique. Highly recommended even as a blind-buy as it is very cheap.

Aramis 900 is probably the most masculine rose fragrance on the market. Formulation of this perfume is from the 70s, so it's a classy gentleman's scent. Rose is done in a way that it's bold but not at all feminine. No one will suspect you of wearing a women's perfume:)

The biggest surprise comes in the end during the dry-down: one of the most beautiful oakmoss scent there is - it's like IFRA rules for oakmoss restrictions didn't apply here.

One downside is that it doesn't last long. If you apply in the morning, by noon it' gone. However, it is so cheap that it won't hurt anybody financially to apply generously several times a day.

Yes, it’s a celebrity perfume and yes, it’s by Jessica Simpson:) but I just love it! I’m into oriental style patchouli when it’s blended with vanilla/cocoa, sandalwood for a warm and mysterious feel (not too sweet or gourmand). It was a blindbuy based on a recommendation of a well-known perfume editor. Expectations were as low as it gets. The perfumer nailed it and the first sniff blew me away. Immediately ordered a backup bottle. Fancy Nights can play in the company of heavyweights such as Chanel Coromandel, LIDGE, LIDG or Jovoy Psychedelique. Don’t expect complexity of Coromandel. It’s rather linear but a great and captivating scent reminding of Psychedelique’s dry-down. It’s dirt cheap, easy to blindbuy. It will be awkward when asked what I’m wearing but well worth the embarrassment!

Alpa Fougere ... when in Czechia or Slovakia, visit a local drugstore and treat yourself to this wonderful fougere cologne. Not much info out there on the cologne but its producer has been around since 1913 and looks like they don’t spend any money on marketing:) Cologne reminds me of scents from the 30’s. It opens up with a slightly sweet lavender, then all goes into rich spices, herbs, hay and I get a bit of oakmoss too. 250ml bottle for less than 3 euros...I am not kidding. If somebody like Guerlain slapped its label on this gem, a price tag 20-times higher would seem fully justified:)

Rose & Cuir by Frederic Malle was for me the most anticipated release of 2019 just because of the house and fragrance name. I love my leathers and with roses mixed in as in Habit Rouge, potential is huuuge. Elevator summary: there is no rose but lots of leather.

It starts green-fruity, reminding me perhaps of Diptyque L'Ombre dans l'Eau. Geranium plays the role of rose. Then it's mainly about cuir but not modern "car-seat" leather as known from Tom Ford or Acqua di Parma. It is green leather. If you're familiar with super-strong leather chypres of the 60s Cabochard or Azuree, you will instantly pick up the accord. Dry green leather that is outdated today but Ellena's version is not as loud and definitely more "wearable" today than Bandit or Cabochard.

Longevity is very good. Not what I expected but a very nice rebound for F. Malle after what they did with Music for a while:))) I have a feeling it won't be a bestseller but this is surely a 5-star material.