Parfum Pour Toi by The Pink Room c2008

Parfum Pour Toi by The Pink Room: launched in 2008.  Created by Cyrille Carles.

So what does it smell like? It is classified as a floral woody musk fragrance for women.

• Top notes lemon, blackcurrant, grapefruit
• Middle notes: rose, fleur de melati, lily of the valley
• Base notes: sandalwood, vanilla, white musk

Visit their website here

I received a sample directly from Sarah Barton-King, the founder of The Pink Room, and was very interested in trying it as I was fascinated by the look of the boutique.

At first, I smell straight up citrus, a blast of lemon and grapefruit. Normally just the mention of grapefruit in the scent pyramid would make me run in the opposite direction as I really don't enjoy the smell of grapefruit, however, this is not the I-just-cut-up-a-fresh-grapefruit-to-eat-for-breakfast scent of grapefruit, it is blended so well with the zetsy lemon that it does not make me scrunch up my nose and sneeze. 

The fresh citrus makes way for a sheer fusion of rose and lily of the valley, nothing heavy in this floral meld. I was wondering what the fleur de melati is and if I could detect it in the perfume. Of course I smell it, it is simply  jasmine sambac, but known as melati in Indonesia. The jasmine, rose and lily of the valley are a little shrill at first, but slowly, the creamy notes of vanilla appear and start mellowing out the flowers, making them smooth. A whisper of white musk and the woody note of the sandalwood round out this diaphanous fragrance. The vanilla, while sweet, is not cloying. 

At the end of the drydown, I am left with a soft trace of the flowers upon delicate vanilla and musk. My overall impression is that the fragrance is very light, airy, and definitely aimed at the younger set. 

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Jasmin Reve by Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger c2013

Jasmin Reve by Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger: launched in 2013. Created by Jean-Claude Gigodot.  As one can tell from the name, Jasmine is the star of this fragrance.

And brides as delicate and fair 

As the white jasmine flowers they wear 

Hath Yemen in her blissful clime 

-T. Moore 

Jasmine is highly prized all over the world and is one of the most costly perfume ingredients. It has been reported that more than five million blossoms must be gathered to produce one kilo of what is known as "pure jasmine absolute". As a result, much of the jasmine used in perfume is a chemical approximation and is present in about 83% of women's fragrances and 33% of men's.

Jasmine oil is often used in aromatherapy as a natural remedy for stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms. It is also said to act as an aphrodisiac.

Then how serene when in your favourite room 

Gales from your jasmines soothe the evening gloom 

-Crabbe

 Ancient Greeks and Egyptians knew the divine power of the jasmine and used it in not only perfumes, but as offerings to the gods. The Pharaonic Egyptians painted flowers on the walls of their palaces, temples and tombs. These paintings show chrysanthemums, cornflowers, roses, irises, jasmine, narcissi, vines, and poppies, with papyrus and lotus.

The intense fragrant essence of the jasmine is recalled in the origin of its name which derives from the Persian word "yasmin" which means "a gift from God."

In early days it was known in English as Gethsamine, Gelsemine, Jesemin and Jasme. It is also the Jasmin as well as Kajan and Zambach of the Arabians.

Here jasmines spread the silver flower 

To deck the wall or weave the bower 

-Cotton 

So what does Jasmin Reve smell like? It is classified as a Floral fragrance for women.

• Top notes: jasmine
• Middle notes: rose
• Base notes: musk, sandalwood and vanilla

I received a sample directly from Au Pays de la Fleur d'Oranger and dabbed some drops on the back of my hand. Jasmin Reve means Jasmine Dream in French and this is exactly what it is. At first sniff, a dreamy waft of plush, narcotic jasmine greets my nose. There is a distinctive fresh bloom effect about the jasmine that I find very appealing. A trace of sweetened spice weaves its web as the fragrance dries down. Now I can smell the soft sandalwood mingling with the creamy vanilla. A vanilla that is not cloyingly sweet. The musk is as soft as gossamer without being overwhelming. It has moderate sillage and as the dry down fades, the jasmine is tenacious until the very end. 

My overall impression of this perfume is that it has a very ethereal quality. Luxuriant and refined. Perfect for wearing with your softest of cashmere sweaters or pashmina shawls. I also think that this would be suitable for a bride to wear on her wedding day. The matching perfumed candle would be appropriate for a wedding gift, Mother's Day or hostess gift.

Visit Au Pays de la Fleurs d'Oranger's website

Mix 17 by Platinum J c2011

Mix 17 by Platinum J: launched in 2011.

"Be yourself. Imitation is suicide."

Platinum J fragrances are hand blended using only the finest 100% pure essential oils by natural perfumer Jacqueline Clemens in Lakewood, Ohio. Each perfume is meant to work with the wearer's own skin to become her own signature fragrance.


From Platinum J:

The green goddess, laughingly skipping across the meadow of hope-filled days of endless sunshine, has bewitched us with her sophisticated yet playful mien. Touched with sun and emotion, the fiery presence of geranium and the liveliness of bergamot fills the empty space that once was inside her heart. As this settles, the crisp green goddess gives way to woods that murmur and amber that whispers "...in my sweet embrace all your pains erased."

So what does it smell like? It is classified as an oriental chypre fragrance for men and women.

• Top notes: bergamot
• Middle notes: frankincense and geranium
• Base notes: amber and patchouli

I received a sample directly from Platinum J, and immediately was taken by how earthy this perfume is. It has a beautiful chypre accord and has a rich patchouli note that I find very attractive. This is not your average, everyday hippie head shop patchouli, but more of a spicy, sweeter, more refined version. Not a floral fragrance, just lots of soft woods, incense and spice. This ambery fragrance has a familiar vintage hint to it that makes me think of the 1920s and the wave of orientalism that swept over that decade.

I would imagine this perfume being housed inside of a limited edition heart shaped jet black crystal flacon and a round ball stopper with a long glass dauber, and the front of the bottle would simply say" "Mix 17".

I would wear this perfume on a daily basis, as I love how deftly composed this honeyed fragrance is. It has a seamless blending only rivaled by the very best perfumers in the business.

Speaking of the vintage aspect of this perfume, it reminds me of the time I was at a local country auction where there were a few perfume bottles sitting up on a table. I picked up the Nuit de Noel bottle and found that the stopper was frozen in place. I didn't try to pry it open, but heard some splashing inside so I knew it still contained the treasured formula. Later on, I had bid on the perfume bottles and happily won the lot.

As I was wrapping up the Nuit de Noel bottle, the stopper miraculously came loose and the sticky, brown, syrupy perfume spilled all over my hands. It's scent immediately filled the room and I was only slightly embarrassed when a little boy, there with his grandma spoke up and said, "It smells like bug spray in here gramma." Everyone was looking at me as I was trying so hard to wipe my soiled perfumey hands on some paper towels I grabbed from the ladies room earlier. The auctioneer even stopped his chanting and asked me to take the perfume out to my car...LOL...So, that is what I did.

I came back inside and went to the ladies room to attempt to scrub the old perfume residue from my hands. I scrubbed and I scrubbed for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, I sat back down at my seat to resume bidding on a lot of antique RS Prussia porcelain. For the rest of the auction, all I smelled was the honeyed perfume from Nuit de Noel still clinging furiously to my hands, however, I found the spicy woodsy dry down to be delightful and not at all obtrusive anymore. This is exactly what I smell in Mix 17, the wonderful vintage woods and amber.



Click HERE to purchase Mix 17 by Platinum J

LURK Natural Perfumes

LURK is a company founded by SoHo New York perfumer Anne Sanford. Anne creates her line of hand blended natural perfumes using only the finest, pure essential oils expertly blended into a base of organic jojoba oil, ensuring that the perfume oils have long lasting capabilities on the skin.  These high quality perfume oils are created without alcohol, chemical preservatives, stabilizers or additives, which mean that they are ideal for applying directly to your skin without the worry of irritation or toxic ingredients found in many modern perfumes. Each perfume is presented in a little glass vial which is perfect for travel.

Le Petit Fou - Le Soft Perfume

Le Petit Fou, manufacturers of high quality solid perfume sticks, have presented several alcohol free perfumes for you enjoyment.

Using only naturally plant derived colorants and ingredients, these nearly edible "paste" perfumes combine the best of cosmetic innovation and the highest standards of expertise while providing the European cosmetology guarantee.

Plum by Mary Greenwell c2010

Plum by Mary Greenwell: launched in 2010, created by celebrity make up artist Mary Greenwell in collaboration with perfumer Francois Robert.

Lemon by Mary Greenwell c2013

Lemon by Mary Greenwell: launched in 2013, created by celebrity make up artist Mary Greenwell in collaboration with perfumer Francois Robert. It was inspired by Mary's own memories of her Mediterranean vacations.

From Harrod's:

This stunning fragrance is a fresh citrus floral with a soft chypre dry down. The citrus notes are specially designed to last a long time, not just to disappear after the first spritz. The soft chypre accord on the dry down gives an elegance and richness that really has to be experienced to be believed.

So what does it smell like? It is a fresh citrus, floral chypre fragrance for women.

• Top notes: lemon, lime, mandarin, bergamot and bitter orange
• Heart notes: narcissus absolute, clary sage, hyacinth, jasmine and lily of the valley
• Base notes: precious woods, oak moss, patchouli, tonka and amber

Available in:

• 50 ml Eau de Parfum
• 100 ml Eau de Parfum
• 7.5 ml purse spray

Folle de Joie by Joie c2014

Folle de Joie by Joie: launched in 2014.