TERRIE

NAVITUS PARFUMS DIVINE APHRODISIAC Fragrance Review

October 4th, 2022

Navitus Parfums has been releasing some of the most exciting fragrances of all the fall 2022 releases.

Introducing… Divine Aphrodisiac.

🔥House: Navitus Parfums
🔥Perfumer: the master, Sidonie Lancesseur
🔥Scent Storyteller: Darian @the_bowtie_fragranceguy

Divine Aphrodisiac opens with a beautiful sesame accord. If you have The Embrace, you already know this house slays sesame. Here, bitter almond and a subtle sprinkle of cinnamon roll out the red carpet for the heart.

Soon, the heart makes its debut and WOW: you really smell peanut butter. The expensive Whole Foods type: hold the sugar, just pure creamy lactonic nuttiness. (Sweetness comes later: This scent is a journey.) There is a little bit of smooth powder rounding out the mid (iris) but overall, peanut butter is the star.

The next chapter: the drydown. Praline, coffee and vetiver take the stage. The vetiver here is done similarly to Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. The praline is prominent and sweet and drapes itself across the woody drydown. I get subtle coffee nuances as well.

This is an extrait de parfum that, let me tell you, is not clocking out early. It is a beast. Until you shower, Divine Aphrodisiac is there. Projection and sillage are also very strong💯

Marketed as unisex, I agree until the drydown when I feel it leaning maybe into a more masculine energy. I absolutely love it on me, and on my man? I die. The name of the perfume, ahem, tells you what you need to know.

This is a perfect fall and winter fragrance, especially for date night, that in addition to being sexy also exudes sophistication and luxury. My one comment is if you work in a conservative office, this is noticeable. It’s not a shy scent: Divine Aphrodisiac will work the room.

Does Divine Aphrodisiac speak to you, my loves? Do you have a favorite Navitus fragrance?

♥️XO, Terrie

Gifted @navitusparfums

NOTES: Sesame, bitter almond, cinnamon, Moroccan iris butter, peanut butter accord, praline, coffee, Haitian vetiver, and Java vetiver
ASMR Fragrances Review | Best Affordable French Niche Perfume House?

October 3rd, 2022

In this era of price hikes, can a good quality niche fragrance be found for under the $50 mark?

I have good news. Yes, yes, and yes. Introducing ASMR Fragrances, who craft their niche perfumes in Grasse. ASMR Fragrances recently launched with 7 fragrances: all 7 perfumes are cruelty free and vegan. Each perfume contains 50ml and retails for $36. The house sent over both of their gourmand fragrances for potential discussion: Yummy Tingles and Slime Satisfaction.

ASMR Fragrances Slime Satisfaction Perfume

Slime Satisfaction showcases a side of ASMR Fragrances beyond simply niche: this is an artisanal gourmand. What makes me say that? Two accords, specifically, the glue and the modeling clay. Now that I have your attention, Slime Satisfaction melds those two with creamy almond, sweet vanilla, and is overall a super wearable and unique gourmand experience.

ASMR Fragrances Yummy Tingles Perfume

Yummy Tingles is a sweet, buttery, bready, and slightly lactonic ride. This is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for gourmand fragrances lovers: I get a waffles-and-syrup vibe. This is my personal favorite of the two. If you have been searching for a waffle fragrance, I think that Yummy Tingles could be a perfect fit.

Both fragrances are on the soft side, as the name of the house would suggest: neither of these shout, rather, they softly caress. If you are seeking a moderate-to-beast fragrance, I want to highlight the softness of these gentle beauties.

I am enjoying both of these fragrances and for the price, I do not think you can go wrong: both Yummy and Slime are good quality fragrances. The house has 5 other perfumes you can check out, if smelling like a snack is not your thing, as well as a $13 discovery kit, available directly from their website as well as on Amazon.
PARLE MOI DE PARFUM GUIMAUVE DE NOEL | Best Marshmallow Fragrance Ever?

October 2nd, 2022

My FAVORITE marshmallow fragrance that no one ever talks about? This gem is called Guimauve de Noel (“Christmas Marshmallow”) by the niche house Parle Moi de Parfum.

Guimauve De Noel perfume

Notes: Orange blossom, vanilla, sugar

This is not an ooey-gooey melty marshmallow fragrance; rather, it is light, soft, fluffy, almost frothy, with a clean dimension in the mix that is reminiscent of an expensive dryer sheet (likely from the orange blossom). Crafted in France, this scent has that sophisticated French elegance about it.

It lasts pretty well (about 6 hours or so) with moderate projection and moderate-to-minimal sillage, lending itself to a nice everyday option, and definitely one that can be a safe office scent.

I blind bought my bottle from Luckyscent and we have lived happily ever after since. TERRIE10 is a Luckyscent promo code to save 10% off sitewide, including on samples, so if you are curious about this, now is a good time to check it out.
PRADA PARADOXE Perfume Review | Is this designer release a dud or a diamond?

September 30th, 2022

This fall, Prada releases their first fragrance containing neroli: Prada Paradoxe eau de parfum. Paradoxe for me is right on trend for that perfect soft life, pretty girl or pretty guy aesthetic: I get a gentle neroli (nothing bitter, nothing soapy), light ambery nuances, and white musk. There is a bit of a high-end hairspray thing happening here as well, which normally I would run a mile from, but hey, when it works, it works!

Prada Paradoxe perfume

Much discussion around Paradoxe has focused on a lack of originality, and I’m not going to completely agree or disagree. There is maybe a familiar DNA here. Some have compared it to a less floral Armani My Way; some find it closer to Valentino Born in Roma.

What we may take from those comparisons is that Paradoxe is an easy to like, easy to wear, appealing fragrance you may have smelled something somewhat similar to before.

What Paradoxe could deliver for you is what it does for me: skin chemistry magic. My Way never loved my chemistry, and Born in Roma didn’t completely disavow my chemistry but did not fully commit. I stayed with samples on both of those and never picked up full bottles. Paradoxe scratches the proverbial itch that both of those left: something pretty, versatile, soft, and maybe not doing the most, yet absolutely effective. I also love neroli perfumes, so this was geared to be a winner for a neroli fan.

Prada Paradoxe just checks all the boxes for me and I absolutely love it. My favorite designer perfume release of 2022 (sorry, Burberry Her Elixir)!
EAU D’ITALIE MYSTIC SUNSET Perfume Review

September 30th, 2022

When I had the opportunity to try Mystic Sunset, a 2022 fragrance release from the Italian niche house Eau D’Italie, the note listing immediately caught my attention and I wondered if this perfume would be a BR540 “dupe” or in the same vein.

Mystic Sunset Parfum

NOTES: Cassis, Osmanthus, Jasmine, Saffron, Cane Sugar, Cedar Wood

There are so many fragrances compared to the famous (some would say infamous) Baccarat Rouge 540, which is known in part for a DNA of sugar, cedar, and saffron. Is there some similarity between Mystic Sunset perfume and Baccarat Rouge 540?

I would say Mystic Sunset is in the same neighborhood, yes, but with key differences. One major distinction, as you see in the notes, Mystic Sunset has fruit. The fruity accord is beautiful and really adds a lovely dimension onto this sort of airy sweet-woody profile. I get a little more cedar in the Mystic Sunset perfume than BR540 and the sugar in this is not caramelized so it’s a “cooler” vibe.

Both BR540 and Mystic Sunset are beautiful fragrances that offer the wearer a distinctly different experience yet with some familiarity.

Mystic Sunset has moderate longevity; I do spray on clothes with this one, and that gets me a full day of wear. There is projection and a mild sillage.

Thank you to the incredible team at Luckyscent for this beautiful fragrance. I could see this being a signature scent for women and men alike. TERRIE10 is a coupon to save 10% off this fragrance as well as all brands, samples, and discovery sets sitewide on Luckyscent.com
TOKYOMILK BY MARGOT ELENA TAINTED LOVE No. 62 Perfume Review

September 29th, 2022

Finding a beautiful fragrance under the $50 mark is becoming an increasing challenge. Finding a beautiful NICHE fragrance under $50 even more so. With that being said, TokyoMilk nailed exactly that assignment with their Tainted Love No. 62 perfume!

Tainted Love perfume

Tainted Love is an interesting blend of white tea, dark vanilla bean, sandalwood, and orchid. The white tea note in the fragrance is divine and almost comes across like a green grape in the composition. This has been one of my favorite tea fragrances for years, although the tea note is neither a background player nor the star, it is the facet I love the most.

The overall feel of Tainted Love is that of a dark and subtly daring fragrance, with the zingy brightness from the white tea zig zagging across the darkness like lightning. Tainted Love lasts very well on me and has a more intimate scent bubble, making it office safe yet still an interesting and lovely scent choice.

TLDR: I’m about to finish my third bottle. Says it all.
NAVITUS PARFUMS VENOM OF LOVE EXTRAIT DE PARFUM Review

September 26th, 2022

Introducing…Venom of Love Extrait de Parfum. Navitus Parfums created this new fall fragrance release in collaboration with Paulina Schar. Venom of Love is nosed by master perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur.

Navitus Parfums Venom of Love

Notes:
Cherry brandy, bitter almond
Chocolate cherry, Turkish rose absolute, Egyptian jasmine absolute
Almond cream, vanilla, amberwood

Venom of Love is GORGEOUS. I get this chocolate accord, very much like the chocolate used in baking where you can smell the sweet chocolate as well as hints of the cocoa powder. I also get a marzipan vibe, which I attribute to how my skin chemistry and nose are interpreting the almond cream accord.

The almond cream accord, for me, is really the star player: and yes, I do get a cherry accord as well. This aspect reminds me of cherry pie filling before it goes into the oven: juicy, maybe slightly sour. There is a subtle boozy aspect to the fragrance on my skin but it is not as boozy as say Tom Ford Lost Cherry or Max Philip Cherry, and overall, this extrait de parfum reminds me of a chocolate covered cherry with marzipan filling. Venom of Love has an interestingly “cool” feeling to it, reminiscent of a decadent sweet dessert selected from a bakery display.

For gourmand lovers, Venom of Love is sure to be a fall and winter fragrance homerun. The longevity is excellent (as one would expect from an extrait concentration), with moderate projection, and moderate sillage.

The “vibe,” overall, is smooth, creamy, cool, and delicious. I received this from Navitus Parfums for review and could not be more delighted to share this with you after wearing for about two weeks: Venom of Love is simply gorgeous, and another stunner by Sidonie.
MAISON CRIVELLI HIBISCUS MAHAJAD | Fragrance Review

September 25th, 2022

Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajad Extrait has been one of my best blind buys of 2022. This stunning fragrance was love at first sniff, and was in constant rotation throughout the warm weather. Now with the fall in full swing, I continue to reach for this stunning scent as it reveals more facets in the changing climate.

In the high heat, Hibiscus Mahajad offered a refreshing hibuscus tea with candied ginger and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. In the cooler weather, I experience more of a jammy rose-hibiscus mix, with amber in the base and a subtle leather touch. Coming from someone who generally avoids leather in perfumery: this one is superb. It’s not prominent, just a subtle sexy caress in the profile.

The potency of this extrait is also topknotch. One spritz is all I need to get a full day wear. This will last eternally on clothes (I love the scent so much I do not mind, just as a heads up if you plan to spritz this near something that has to be drycleaned). The sillage and projection are also strong.

Absolutely a stunning fragrance and signature scent worthy for me. Huge hit from Maison Crivelli!
MIND GAMES FRAGRANCES Review Part 2: Silver Collection

September 24th, 2022

I have been testing out 10 extrait de parfums from new artisan house MIND GAMES♟courtesy of the house’s limited editition Discovery Vault that I received. In this review we are deep diving into this new artisan niche house’s Silver Collection.

MIND GAMES FRAGRANCES Discovery Vault

All of these fragrances are extrait de parfum, all with marvelous longevity, sillage and projection.

Scent experiences:

♟CASTLING – Christelle Laprade

A new and riveting moment for fig in perfumery is ushered in with Castling. Castling is an elegant, sophisticated ride of milky fig, soft florals, musk, vanilla woods and sandalwood. Smooth and even solar at points. Regal and refined, Castling is sure to prove to be an award winner for MIND GAMES.

♟CHECKMATE – David Apel

We have a champagne accord🥂paired with tobacco. Smoky, yet bright and a bit zippy simultaneously. Davana, rose and patchouli add to this sensual mix. As electricifying as the move!

♟BLOCKADE – Christelle Laprade

Boya oud with leather. Potent, intricate, bold and daring! This and J’Adoube are the two strongest in a strong range. One spray commands the room; overspray and you’ve bought the building.

♟CAÏSSA – David Apel

Licorice has entered the chat! Stunningly so! Cocoa bean, cardamom, white florals, musk… If you find white florals “boring,” prepare yourself, because queenly Caïssa is beguiling and sweeps you off your feet.

♟AS-SULI’S DIAMOND – Annick Menardo

Myrrh, incense and woods in the base are composed with ylang ylang, fig leaf and bergamot. Resinous. Smoky. Light and dark. Poised, pulled together, and elegant.

These dazzle and amaze me with their genius creativity while still being lovely and wearable.

Which ones would you pick from this collection, my loves? Have you tried these yet?

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MIND GAMES FRAGRANCES Review Part 1: Black Collection

September 24th, 2022

I have been testing out 10 extrait de parfums from new artisan house MIND GAMES♟courtesy of the house’s limited editition Discovery Vault that I received. These take my breath away. Let’s explore the 5-piece Black Collection in this review.

MIND GAMES FRAGRANCES Discovery Vault 8ml travel sprays

Excellent longevity, projection and sillage abound across the board here. Just a few light spritzes will carry the day.

Scent experiences below:

♟GARDEZ – Emilie Coppermann
Gardez has fruits and florals draping leathers, and subtle orris. Although saffron is not a listed note, something buoys the leathers up in the drydown. Underneath the seductive darkness lies something primal. Complex, sensual, even erotic. (Captivating also on my man—these extraits are all unisex.) A tantalizing invitation lies in this bottle.

♟GRAND MASTER – Alexandra Carlin
A deep, red rose blooms near a river of black coffee. A blackcurrant shrub nearby. This rose, is it tart, is it jammy? Both by turn then this evolves into a sweet bread with brandy, fruits and nuts. A panettone accord, my loves! A tour de force of a floral gourmand.

♟SCHOLAR’S MATE – Christelle Laprade
Prominent notes of cedar and grapefruit did not adore my skin chemistry, so on to the blotters that come with the Vault: this smells elegant and compelling, aromatic and woody. Vetiver, definitely. Smoky.

♟J’ADOUBE – Nathalie Benareau
I experience a fruity floral (listed as a pomegranate suede profile, skin chemistry as we know is unique). There is a little bit of a “perfumey” vibe. I enjoy this one, it is lovely yet may not feel as unique as the other offerings. Quite potent, if you seek a powerhouse.

♟DOUBLE ATTACK – Christelle Laprade
Sweet chocolate, bitter chocolate, sweet saffron, spicy saffron…I am enraptured. A squeeze of orange bitters in the drydown; a sprinkle of spicy cinammon. Such an experience! Words…words fail. A creation of astonishing intricate beauty. Iconic.

MIND GAMES delivers a masterful collection. My favorites: Double Attack, Grand Master and Gardez. Which do you think your favorites would be from the Black Collection?

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