Posts filed under 'Home Scents'

Bois d’Orient Candle by L’Artisan Parfumeur

Bois d'OrientSince we’re on the subject of the upcoming holidays, it only seems appropriate to review one of my favorite candles - Bois d’Orient by L’Artisan Parfumeur. Bois d’Orient (Oriental Wood) is a special Christmas candle (as you can also see from the festive packaging) that brings to your home a cozy wintery blend of cedar, cinammon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, walnut, and vanilla. Besides its incredible throw, Bois d’Orient makes me feel all warm and fuzzy with its smooth fluffiness - as if it’s been whipped into a perfect creamy mousse and sprinkled with spices. It has a perfect amount of vanilla and just enough of a spicy kick to earn a place of honor in my living room at this time of year. Moreover, believe it or not, it even reminds me of my favorite Metallica perfume (a spicy carnation vanilla blend), and the more things I find that smell like Metallica, the better, even if it means stooping down to the level of bathroom plug-in fresheners. Bois d’Orient is an olfactory equivalent of sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace on a freezing winter evening and an invaluable mood-lifting accessory for all the cold-phobiacs like myself.

Bois d’Orient is available at Aedes and Luckyscent. For more retailer information, please check the L’Artisan Parfumeur web site.

Image source: www.luckyscent.com

14 comments December 7th, 2006

Room Sprays

Liquid KarlWhen I started this blog, I created a Home Scents category and wrote a few candle reviews. I’ve babbled about perfume so much since that it got completely neglected. To remedy that, today I want to talk about home scents as in home/room sprays. I’m not a huge room spray user but I do, however, have a few favorites, most recent ones being Bottega Veneta Intreccio No 1 by L’Artisan Parfumeur (which is said to recreate the scent of an old library, with notes of leather, incense, books), and another wonderful L’Artisan room spray - Bois d’Orient that also comes in a candle (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, walnut, pepper). I’ve also used Balsam by Agraria, and, believe it or not, Liquid Karl (cardamom, thyme, pepper, spices, frangipani, cocoa, crusty bread note, cedar, moss). The latter was purchased exactly two years ago in London at an H&M store which had it as an exclusive. I adored it so much back then, and wore it as perfume but it was later placed in my bathroom for lack of staying power. It does work amazingly well as a room spray, though, transforming the room into a bakery. No, that’s not why I put it in the bathroom (that would be utterly gross!) - it was totally unintentional. So, that’s about all I have for room sprays. I do prefer candles but I’ve heard people use room sprays as personal fragrance, so I’m exploring this new category. Do you have any favorite room sprays? Please share.

P.S. I promise I won’t write about those plug-in room fresheners tomorrow.

Image source: www.osmoz.com

28 comments November 13th, 2006

Perfume Review: Balsam by Agraria

Agraria BalsamAgraria is a San Francisco based luxury home fragrance line. I first became familiar with it after smelling their Bitter Orange cologne a couple of years ago. It didn’t do much for me back then, so I didn’t even notice there were other scents as well. Happy was my oblivion until Marina from Perfume-Smellin’ Things once again inspired an uncontrollable desire to commit the Unsniffed Purchase crime (she’s rather infamous for that). The object was Balsam cologne. All she had to say was that it would be her staple this fall, and how she couldn’t believe nobody had told her about Balsam before. In the following half hour or so I was on Beautyhabit placing my order. I’m normally not rash to such shameful extent but $36 for 100 ml didn’t help the matters either.

Balsam is “a refreshing and luscious marriage combining the essence of sweet balsam, California Redwood, a hint of French sage & the bouquet of white flowers” (Agrariahome.com). There’s not much else I can add other than it smells like fresh pine needles, smoke, and wood. It dries down to a soft, slightly powdery, balsamic scent with just a whisper of flowers and overall mellow sweetness. It has an extremely comforting effect on me. Since I got it last week, I’ve been faithfully wearing it to bed every night as well as vigorously spraying the rooms, causing Mr. Aromascope to choke and sputter profusely.

The cologne can be used as a home spray as well. It has an average lasting power, so frequent reapplying will be necessary if you want it to last through the day. Balsam is also available in other products (I’m seriously desiring the candle now).

Image source: www.your-cosmetics.com

12 comments September 10th, 2006

Thé et Pain d’Épices Candle

Thé et Pain d’Épices (Tea and Gingerbread) candle by L’Artisan Parfumeur is one of my favorite cold weather candles. Its rich and slightly smoky aroma is almost identical to L’Artisan Parfumeur Tea For Two perfume. The perfume features the notes of ginger, cinnamon, green anise, honey, and vanilla. Both produce the effect of chai tea or gingerbread latte that’s not syrupy-sweet or cloying. I adore its honeyed smokiness. It conjures up the image of black tea brewing while gingerbread is baking in the oven. It transforms the room into a warm and cozy place where you just want to curl up with a blanket and a good book.

L’Artisan candles have one of the best throws. The aroma envelopes the room and lingers for hours.

The candle is available at Luckyscent, Aedes as well as L’Artisan Parfumeur online shop.

Image source: www.luckyscent.com

8 comments June 27th, 2006

Diptyque Foin Coupé Candle

Since we’re on the subject of summer scents, I’ve picked a fitting candle - Diptyque Foin Coupé (Fresh Mown Hay). As a child, I spent quite a few summers visiting both of my grandmothers in the countryside, and, while they didn’t make me work too hard, it was always my job to help them gather hay. Therefore, the smell of fresh mown hay is very familiar. Foin Coupé evokes these memories. Its aroma is grassy, slightly sweet, with soft musky undertones. My nose also detects some meadow flowers. The candle is of superb quality, burns evenly, with an excellent, long-lasting throw. In my presently air-conditioned apartment, it brings out summer freshness that I sometimes find so lacking in the city.

Diptyque Foin Coupe is available at various online boutiques and retailers nationwide. To mention a few: Aedes, Bigelow Chemists, Lusciouscargo, Four Seasons Products.

Image source: www.aedes.com

Add comment June 19th, 2006

Loree Rodkin Gothic I Candle

Gothic IGothic I candle accompanies Gothic I perfume oil and is a creation of Loree Rodkin, a well-known jewelry designer. Her web site says, “Known for her non-conformist, visionary approach to jewelry making, Loree Rodkin blurs the distinction between modern and medieval.” With that in mind, it’s no wonder the candle has an antique feel to it as well. It’s a predominantly patchouli scent but the typical earthiness is softened by balmy vanilla. There’s nothing bitter or sharp about it. It’s a very cozy, cushy scent. There’re candles that saturate the entire room allowing anybody to enjoy their aroma, and there’re those that I’d call intimate candles - their aroma is perceivable only to those that are in the immediate vicinity. Gothic I falls into the latter category. It warms you up with its nice even, burn.

Gothic I can be purchased from Luckyscent. For more retailer information, please check the Loree Rodkin web site.

Image source: www.luckyscent.com

2 comments June 13th, 2006

VIP Room Candle

VIP Room CandleVIP Room carries the name of the famous Paris nightclub. The candle was created for the club’s founder alongside VIP Room fragrance, therefore it features the same notes - tiare flower, bergamot, tangerine, pineapple, sandalwood, vetiver, birch, iris root, leather, styrax, amber, vanilla, musk. I must say I don’t necessarily detect all of the notes when I burn it but it sure brings out the same aroma of leather, pineapple, amber, and birch. It’s sensual in an urban way. It’s the type of candle I like to burn on nights when I listen to the Chillout station on the Musicmatch radio. It smells of gin & tonic, leather jackets, and birch trees - a bizarre combo, I realize, but intoxicating nonetheless. Its stimulating and rhythmical aroma fills the room in no time. I absolutely adore it!

VIP Room is available at Aedes, Luckyscent, and directly from the VIP Room online shop.

Image source: www.aedes.com

6 comments June 6th, 2006

Lumière Luxe Candle by Monyette Paris

Lumiere LuxeLumière Luxe candle is the latest addition to the Monyette Paris line, and I must say it became my favorite candle the minute I received it. I love everything about it: the packaging, the design, the scent, and an absolutely fabulous throw. It envelopes the room in its creamy tropical goodness even when not lit. It smells exactly like the Monyette Paris perfume oil which contains the notes of Tahitian gardenia, vanilla orchid, French muguet du bois, Nag Champa.

Lumière Luxe can be purchased at Luckyscent and Beautyhabit and retails $50.

Image source: www.luckyscent.com

2 comments June 1st, 2006


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