SniffCult

Today, I need to send a big thank you to Claire from Bon Parfumeur for gifting me their recent release, 502 Iris Cartagena. This is a beautiful fragrance and not at all what I expected.

I've felt a bit apprehensive about this one, so it sat unboxed for maybe a week or more. Despite the wonderful reviews and praise I've read, I had a stinking feeling my reaction would be disappointment.

While I adore Iris perfumes, I already have a favorite Iris and chocolate scent. I suppose the idea of competition for that top spot just didn't sit well with me, and I don't want to have a lot of fragrances that smell alike. Thankfully, 502 is a distinctly different scent and a very worthy competitor for favorite.

Also, I'm not exactly gourmand-crazy. I'm very picky about what I label as gourmand. It's just a new genre to me. I do a lot of cooking and don't particularly care to smell like food. And if I do want to smell like food, it needs to smell like something I want to eat. I don't eat flowers, ok!?!

Anyway, this morning, I finally got the courage to unbox 502. And as with every other fragrance I've experienced from the Bon Parfumeur, 502 Iris Cartagena is another outstanding scent.

I've only been wearing it for a couple of hours but can clearly detect the prominent notes. (I absolutely love detecting chocolate in fragrance!) There's also something spicy and slightly nutty to my nose.

I get exactly why it's called gourmand, too. It's the scent I'd expect to find sitting at a bistro table with some dessert created in front of me by a gourmet chocolatier. Of course, there needs to be a bud vase with an Iris or two nearby.

Oh, really! I've my nose buried in the bend of my elbow, and this is delightful. I'll write at length about this one soon. I already feel inspired.

Have an exceptional Wednesday, y'all! I already know you smell great!

My 473ml (16oz) Shalimar Eau de Cologne. I picked this one up in an antique store a couple of years back. It was in pristine condition when I got it. I get so sad when I think about it. Don't let no clumsy mfs around your perfumes! This one's been tipped over more than once and ate the ink off the label. Now, it sits on a very high shelf.

Anyway, it still smells amazing! I wanted it for the bottle and didn't have high expectations on an unboxed vintage perfume, still smelling good. I suppose that just goes to show quality ingredients really can go a long way.

Do you have a bottle that makes you sad? I wanna hear all about it in the comments!

And one more thing on this lovely Sunday afternoon, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your posts! I had a weak moment after I read Kati's post on Tauer's Phi-une Rose and finally ordered that full bottle.

This photo is from a post I shared back in 2022. I've shopped around for this one on and off since then. Yesterday, I found it for a wonderful price at smallflower.com and I'm jumping sideways to get it!

If you're not familiar with smallflower.com, go check them out. They're Chicago's famous Merz Apothecary but online. They have a great selection of niche fragrances, and my experience with service and delivery have always been first class. Did I mention, there's always been a little lagniappe included?

Anyway, I can't wait to see what y'all are sampling this week.

That's all folks!

Oysters and Butter...in a perfume?

Yes, you read that right. Hilde Soliani's Miss Tranchant is NOT your typical gourmand. It's a salty, sweet, seaside adventure for your senses. If you're tired of the same ol' vanilla/chocolate/caramel scents, Miss Tranchant would like to have a sniff with you.

Read the full review on my blog (link in bio)!

*No oysters were harmed or eaten in the making of this image. They were generated with AI.

Happy y'all! It's a hot August day here in sunny Colorado. Thankfully, I've got Bel Azur to accompany me. This one's discontinued, so I try to use it kinda sparingly. I first purchased Tory Burch's Bel Azur as a 6ml travel size. By the time I got around to wanting a bottle, I learned it was discontinued. Thankfully, I scored this 50ml on Mercari before the prices went through the roof! It's such a beautiful scent for summer.

Notes include: Bergamot, Mandarin, Lemon, Neroli, Pink Peppercorn, Peony, Patchouli Heart, Vetiver Heart, Cedarwood oil.

Happy Monday, y'all!

I'm following Keri's routine and sharing my first perfume from Amouage, the discontinued Figment. This is a beautiful blend of lush florals and spice. It's a unique scent and not a safe blind-buy at all. It's still in stock at some online retailers.

Notes include: Gardenia, Sichaun Pepper, Saffron, Lily, Tuberose, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Cassia Bourbon, Orange Blossom, Papyrus, Orris, Patchouli, and Incense.

What's your fave from Amouage?

Calling all licorice lovers! For a dryer, earthy, less sweet, more woody licorice perfume, give a sniff to Valour from the Australian brand, Map of the Heart.

Do you have a favorite from this brand? What color is your heart? 💜

Licorice is one of my all-time favorite fragrance notes, and I'm excited to add V.5 Valour to my collection. This smoky, woody licorice is unlike any other licorice fragrance I have sitting 9n my shelves. I expect it will be perfect for fall evenings and certain special occasions.

My fragrant fairy-godmother dropped off these Middle Eastern perfumes the other day: Fakhar and Opulent Red by Lattafa and Armaf Voyage Hawaii. A gift, passed from a friend to a friend to another friend of a friend, and finally to me. I don't know who the original gifter was, but I'm certainly thankful for the generosity and willingness to share the joy of fragrance.

I've sniffed them all, and my favorite of the three is definitely the Armaf. It's much sweeter than I usually go for but enjoyable, nonetheless.

Shoutout to one of my favorite FragFriends, Keri for her awesome Middle Eastern Monday series! Tell me about your favorite Middle Eastern scents. I'd love to hear more recommendations.

Today, I begin my foray into the world of botanical perfumery. 🌿 When I say botanical perfumery, I'm talking about perfumes created exclusively with all-natural aromatic essences extracted from plants - flowers, fruits, herbs, spices, woods.🌱

I haven't had a chance to try these yet, but even through the bubble wrap, I could smell them. A big thank you to Claudia for sending these samples my way. I've been jumping sideways for the chance to experience botanical peefumes as they seem to be everywhere I turn these days. I have a great admiration for artisan fragrances, especially those created with purely natural ingredients and bottled by hand with love and care. Cusani ticks all of those boxes for me. You just can't get more luxurious than that!✨️

If you're not familiar with Cusani Perfumes or botanical perfumery, go check out their website (cusani.com). I love how Claudia includes her inspirations under the perfumer's notes. Also, her journal is chock-full of interesting tidbits on fragrance.🪷

Furthermore, I want to offer my congratulations to Cusani Perfumes on their recent feature in British Vogue. It's just further proof of the growing interest in this form of perfumery.

Are you interested in botanical perfumery? I'd love to get your recommendations. Have you experienced any of the natural perfumes from Cusani? How do you define luxury?

I am finding myself absolutely addicted to the salty, marine scents of summer. Today, I've been sampling White Whale from Masque Milano. For the past 6-7 hours, I've been getting these lovely wafts of fragrance that really have me missing the water. Definitely need to add this one to my collection.

White Whale is an evening sail under a starry sky, far from the lights of the city. I can almost hear the waves and smell a soft breeze carrying the scent of osmanthus and violet across the salty water.

This fragrance was created by Christian Alori and contains notes of Olibanum, Salty rope, Black Pepper Madagascar, Ambergris, Osmanthus, Violet Flower, Orris Concrete, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, and Cistus Labdanum.

Have you tried White Whale? Tell me about your favorite salty marine scents, please.

Hope y'all are having the best weekend ever!!