TERRIE

HUE BY HAYLEY KIYOKO Fragrance Review

November 25th, 2022

Presenting Hue, by Hayley Kiyoko. This is my first time reviewing a celebrity fragrance and there is delightfully nothing stereotypically “celebrity” to be found when it comes to Hue.

🍉🌹🍊NOTES🍉🌹🍊
Watermelon, blood orange, peony, lychee, rose, freesia, magnolia, cacao blanc, skin musks

One word review, would be…

…dazzling. Hue was an immediate love for me, from the first sniff. It’s dewy, it’s effervescent, it’s bright, it’s uplifting, it has presence, and TONS of personality.

To categorize it as a fruity floral, or a citrus floral, or a musky fruity floral… all this seems a bit blasé. Hue is a beautiful fragrance touching on multiple genres: a translucent kaleidoscope, refracting multiple shades of scent.

On our perfume map, Hue is not a sibling or cousin to any fragrance I have tried, yet could be in the same zip code as D&G L’Imperatrice 3 and Delina La Rosée. Hue performs well for me, especially for a dewier type of scent: I get a day’s wear, then will think it is gone, until a lovely wave of scent ascends again.

The Fragrance Foundation selected Hue as a 2022 Universal Prestige Finalist. As to the final chef’s kiss? This 65ml bottle retails for $65.

Thank you to the distributor for thinking of me to potentially discuss Hue: it’s original yet accessible, full of soul, and a total win for me.
BASTILLE PARFUMS PLEINE LUNE Fragrance Review

November 25th, 2022

Mystery. Comfort. Sensuality. Elegance. Style. Tranquility.

One magical bottle of fragrance: A myriad of exquisite experiences.

Presenting… Pleine Lune (“Full Moon”) by @bastille_parfums

Fluffy matcha tea tangoes with white florals. Neroli, orange blossom, jasmine and tuberose take the dance floor, yet courteously never upstage their leading man: that phenomenal matcha tea is leading. Pink pepper adds a subtle magic and the base notes of tonka bean, sandalwood, cedar and benzoin merge seamlessly into this complex yet effortless dance.

Bastille Parfums creates 95% natural blends, and Pleine Lune is all smooth moves. The performance is quite good, especially for a clean fragrance. I spray a bit on clothes too.

One of the BEST floral gourmands I have ever come across: Pleine Lune.
PEARLA NERA SARAAI Fragrance Review

November 25th, 2022

An oud fragrance, crafted intentionally for beginners?

Introducing Saraai, whose beautiful Arabic name translates into English: “The Palace, where Nobility meets.” It has been said that the sign of true nobility is an affinity for placing other souls at ease, and Saraai absolutely does that with me. Whether you are an oud lover, or oud adverse, keep reading. Saraai may, just may, call to you.

Notes of incense, saffron, and dried fruits twine around the woods: oud, sandalwood, and cedarwood. Subtle pink pepper swirls while vanilla and amber amplify the dynamic dimensions of the other accords.

Is Saraai smoky? Yes. Is it sweet? Also yes! Inspired by a night in the desert, Saraai truly transports you there: a gust of smoke from the fire, kindling snapping, all with the scents of the forest twining their way into your consciousness. Your date packed a picnic-by-starlight and you contentedly wind down the evening with a medley of dried apricots, figs and dates, under the night sky.

Saraai, by Pearla Nera.
PIERRE GUILLAUME PARIS 31 TONKA BODYKON Fragrance Review

November 13th, 2022

A divine, delicate tonka gourmand, designed to caress and contour the curves of the body: resplendent, like the rays of a setting sun. Introducing 31 Tonka Bodykon, the new release from Pierre Guillaume Paris.

NOTES: Rum, honey, apple, pistachio, amber, vanilla, benzoin, and tonka.

The scent bubble is quite intimate, as the name suggests: within that bubble, paradise awaits. Soft swirls of gourmand notes cascade: here, a delicious, slightly zingy apple accord; a moment later, a honeyed rum. Tonka is the amiable specter supporting the translucent twists and turns of these delicate delicacies.

This fragrance is perfect for “Netflix and chill” (are we still saying that?) as it’s not going to overpower anyone’s nose. Far from the proverbial beast mode and perfect for an intimate setting and/or someone seeking a gentle yet impactful scent.

I simply adore Bodykon. Thankfully, as I blind bought it😄After reading the notes on the @luckyscent website, I could not resist. An absolute love—and speaking of love, Luckyscent has extended our 10% off coupon, Terrie10, through 2023.
SCENTS OF WOOD PLUM IN COGNAC Fragrance Review

November 5th, 2022

Today let’s take a look at a newcomer to my collection, which already has a cult following among fragrance lovers worldwide: Plum in Cognac, by Scents of Wood.

When approaching Scents of Wood, this is a house that has a specific ethos interwoven across all of their fragrances. The perfumers actually select and use tree essences, creating the sensation of “a forest bath,” to quote founder Fabrice Croisé.

When wearing Plum in Cognac, it truly is like a forest bath at first: I can almost feel the bark under my hands, leaves underfoot, even smell a hint of earthiness.

These initial sensations twine together gradually with darker ones (smokiness, booziness, tobacco and vetiver, a deep and decadent plum note) as well as lighter ones (subtle cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla).

Plum in Cognac received the 2021 Perfume Extraordinaire of the Year Award from the Fragrance Foundation. Without ever feeling pretentious, Plum in Cognac absolutely exudes an effortlessly award-winning status.

Unique, compelling, and unlike anything I have tried before, Plum in Cognac also has great performance and longevity.
MAX PHILIP PINEAPPLE PERFUME REVIEW + Save 10% off sitewide with “TS22”

October 23rd, 2022

Presenting… the new release from French niche house Max Philip…

Pineapple. Let’s talk about it!

Max Philip Pineapple

Pineapple unfurls in a fascinating reversal of expectation: when first applied, I smell mostly the base notes, of creamy coconut and sandalwood. It feels like a fluffy, frothy coconut cake (fresh, not sticky sweet). There is a besito of orange blossom. Then the pineapple becomes more pronounced and it has a spice to it (possibly from the vetiver and patchouli). Through the mid, it develops into a grilled pineapple-coconut cake. Then in the drydown, the spiced pineapple fades and a juicy bright pineapple flutters in, still in the fluffy cake-like context. Concluding with what I would expect the opening to be, interestingly.

I have tried a number of pineapple fragrances yet for comparison, Pineapple is not similar to any. Out of left field, Pineapple reminds me of Xerjoff Lira, which for me, is like a lemon pound cake. Pineapple is giving me a little bit of a similar vibe, in a different composition: a slice of fluffy, coconutty pineapple cake goodness.

Now, performance on me is also similar to Lira (citrus molecules are not known for their stability). This is a close cuddler who gives me a solid 4, up to maybe 5 hours on skin. I overspray and spritz on clothes to help us along😉

Pineapple delivers a delicate and delectable experience, in the sophisticated French ethos Max Philip encapsulates. Nothing synthetic or harsh in sight🍍🍰🥥

If you are curious to know more about this house, I have reviews on my page of their bestseller, the absolutely stunning Cherry🍒, and another new release called Cigar Bar, which is all things dark, deep and boozy. Check out their full range at maxphilipusa.com and save an extra 10% off with TS22!

Thank you to the team for the opportunity to discuss this new release. Word is we may be seeing Peach next…

💚XO, Terrie

PS Pineapple and Cherry are also available in a travel spray size. TS22 works on the travel sprays as well as the full bottles.
MAISSA PARFUMS PARIS JAWHARA | Fragrance Review + Coupon

October 23rd, 2022

Today’s review is of a wildly successful blind buy, with my floral gourmand lovers in mind: let’s talk Jawhara, by @maissa_parfums

Jawhara

Jawhara takes you soaring on a flight of orange blossom fancy, full of vivacious beauty. Bergamot and subtle well-done lemon add to the zest of this fragrance flight. The orange blossom is zingy, rich, jammy, sumptuous, velvety even—and reminds me somewhat of how my favorite luxury house, EBK Paris, creates their signature velvety vibes.

Jawhara is luscious, gorgeous, jammy orange blossom paired with vanilla. The glowing amber base deepens and rounds out the composition. There is no caramel listed, however, I get a slight caramel warmth in here as well.

A heart-stealing, soul-snatching serenade of scent sensation, Jawhara is the first fragrance I ever felt tempted to gatekeep. But you know I tell you everything💋

I get great longevity (8 hours on skin) with a moderate projection. There is nice sillage: this beauty is PURRING! I had someone scoot after me in a parking lot to ask what was I wearing (which was alarming, then charming:)

Jawhara is $114 for a 50ml bottle on @the5th_scent where I purchased it, and with the 20% off coupon the 5th Scent kindly set up (Terrie20), this gem enters the double digits. Jawhara comes in a body mist formulation as well.

I am entranced and could not be happier🥰Does Jawhara speak to you? Are you a “flourmand” lover the way I am?
POETIC AROMAS KISS THE MOON | Fragrance Review

October 23rd, 2022

Kiss the Moon is a 2022 debut fragrance by American independently-owned house Poetic Aromas. This scent?🌙This scent is magic in a bottle.

Poetic Aromas Kiss the Moon perfume

One word review?

Stellar🌟

There are boozy touches, cotton candy, saffron, cedar—and strawberry🍓I find the strawberry in Kiss the Moon to be a refreshing flip on the fruit fragrance trend—no shade, cherry, still love ya! Let’s give some of that spotlight to strawberry too🥰

Kiss gives me this simultaneously airy yet boozy strawberry, with a spicy cinammon swirl (not a powdery cinammon, this is smooth, adding a subtle zing, almost reminding me of a spicy cinammon candy) with light woods, and a whisper of leather. There are a lot of other beautiful notes (full note listing on the house’s website and I included the notes in my unboxing reel); these are what my chemistry mainly brings forward.

This sparkling golden purple juice is POTENT: as an undersprayer, I don’t get a ton of compliments generally, but with Kiss? Even with 1-2 spritzes, the projection, the sillage…people take notice and want to know more. This fragrance is not clocking out early and will stay the day.

As a perfume parent, I do find Kiss its own special magic, unique, and one that I believe many people would absolutely love. It’s not a sibling or a cousin to anything I have ever smelled.

Now you may say, Terrie, c’mon, give us something on our perfume map here! Hm…I would say, Kiss the Moon could be living in the same zip code as Xerjoff La Capitale and Mancera Instant Crush. Baccarat Rouge 540 may be a rumored resident as well, but as to that, I cannot confirm🤭Kiss is every bit as quality as those iconic and luxurious scents, with a friendlier $85 price tag for a 30ml bottle.

This has been a competitive year for fragrance releases, and Kiss The Moon is one of the most extraordinary scents I’ve encountered. *Gifted
SCENTS OF WOOD PRALINE IN MAPLE | Fragrance Review

October 11th, 2022

Scents of Wood is an astonishingly beautiful fine fragrance house. Fragrance industry veteran Fabrice Croisé created a concept rooted in his (and our) love of nature, specifically, forests and trees. This award-winning niche house truly trailblazed the concept of wood-inspired scents and continues to elevate the genre to another dimension.

Scents of Wood Praline in Maple

Praline in Maple, a 2022 Scents of Wood release that has already gained quite a following, is nosed by Natasha Cote-Mouzannar.

A note from the house: Imagine delicious candied woods, and smoked syrup. This fragrance exudes the addiction of maple syrup and intrigue of mysterious woods. Cedarwood Atlas has an earthy, woody leathery aroma with hints of balsamic sweetness while Peru Balsam is laced with notes of vanilla, chocolate, and even a trace of white floral intoxication.

Praline in Maple is a beautiful, smoky, sweet, and resinous tour de force. I absolutely love this fragrance. The only other scent that somewhat comes to mind, for comparison purposes, is one called L’Artisan Noir Exquis. Noir Exquis has a distinctly different DNA, including chestnut note and a creamy feel to it.

If you enjoyed that fragrance, or even if you did not but liked the concept of it (given the lactonic aspect to Noir Exquis, depending on your skin chemistry that one can pull a bit sour), give Praline in Maple a chance. I think you will be pleased.

Praline in Maple also offers the wearer a more joyous feel; as the name Noir would imply, Noir Exquis is quite a deep and dark fragrance. I enjoy both, although you may detect in this review an abiding love affair with Praline in Maple. And you would be correct: this is a fragrance both beautiful, and unique!
HOUSE OF SILLAGE WHISPERS OF TRUTH | Discovering House of Sillage

October 8th, 2022

House of Sillage has been on fire with their new releases, including high profile collaborations with Disney and Wonder Woman. I was curious to try their fragrances and the house offers several discovery set options. I picked up the Whispers in The Garden set to check out, which contains some of the earlier generation fragrances from this luxury house.

House of Sillage Whispers in the Garden Discovery Set

The sample set contains seven House of Sillage fragrances: Whispers of Truth; Whispers of Strength; Whispers of Innocence; Whispers of Admiration; Whispers of Enlightenment; Whispers of Guidance, and Whispers of Time.

Whispers of Truth is a cult classic amongst followers of House of Sillage, and it is so popular it has been sold out for quite some time on the website. Notes include citrus at the top (bergamot, grapefruit and orange) combined with florals (rose and jasmine) and a base of moss, musk, and caramel. It is a unique and genre-straddling scent that is unlike anything else I have smelled.

I appreciate the other fragrances in the discovery kit as well (ranging from soft likes to solid likes), yet Whispers of Truth is the singular one that ensnared my heart. I definitely see why of the Whispers series, Truth receives so much love. I hope to see it restocked in the future.