Sweet William by Ineke c2011

Sweet William by Ineke: launched in 2011 as part of the Floral Curiosities Collection that was originally offered exclusively through Anthropologie. Created by the classically trained Ineke Ruhland, who was inspired to compose these original fragrances based on the flowers growing in her garden.

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

• Top notes: peach schnapps, cinnamon, clove
• Middle notes: sweet william, sandalwood, cedarwood
• Base notes: patchouli, bourbon vanilla

I received a sample directly from Ineke and was pleasantly surprised to see it arrive inside of a simulated book coffret alongside four other scents from the Floral Curiosities collection. The little "book" has a pocket on the inside that resembles a library card pocket. Tucked inside the pocket are library cards that look like they were repurposed from an old card catalog. On each card is a pretty illustration on one side and the description of each perfume and the flower that inspired its creation on the reverse. Each sample vial is a generous 2.5ml spray that holds enough fragrance so that the perfume may be worn a few times so that you can get acquainted with the scent. I think the whole presentation is just adorable and worthy of a gift to a treasured friend or cherished relative.

Now since my curiosity was piqued, I sprayed the Sweet William perfume on the back of my hand and my initial impression was "WOW". I close my eyes and think of a delicious dessert to be served on a cool early autumn day like today. Succulent baked peaches, the last from the harvest, expertly sliced and arranged in a swirl over a creamy bourbon vanilla custard, generously drizzled with a decadent schnapps glaze and sprinkled with the pungent spices of cinnamon and cloves. An antique crystal bowl holds a potpourri of cedar and sandalwood chips mixed in with dried sweet william and patchouli leaves. The heat of the fat pillar candles on the table brings a gentle heat which intensifies the scent of the dried foliage and the delectable dessert.

After an hour, the perfume is still strong and spicy with a beautiful woodsy vanilla drydown. I think it would smell very nice on a man as well as it is not too feminine as this is not a floral style fragrance. My husband said that it smelled very good, like the cinnamon that I sprinkle on his toast, which he loves to have with his morning coffee. The marriage of these spices and woods remind me of Jungle L'Elephant by Kenzo, another fragrance that I enjoy wearing in the cooler months.


Click HERE to purchase Sweet William 0.5 oz Eau de Parfum
Click HERE to purchase Sweet William 2.5 oz Eau de Parfum
Click HERE to purchase The Floral Curiosities Collection Scent Library Sampler Set

Traversee du Bosphore by L`Artisan c2010

Traversee du Bosphore by L'Artisan Parfumeur: launched in 2010. Created by Bertrand Duchaufour who drew his inspiration from his journey to Istanbul. The Ottoman delicacy, Turkish delight plays a big part in the composition which helps makes this a beautiful fruity floral perfume with sugary gourmand notes.

Amouage Gold by Amouage c1983

Amouage Gold for Women by Amouage: launched in 1983. Created by Guy Robert, it was the first fragrance issued by the house of Amouage and is a perennial classic among its devotees.

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.

Palio by Lorenzo Siena c2013

Palio by Lorenzo Siena: launched in 2013. The name Palio is Italian for "winner" or "prize". A very apt name for the fragrance.

Love, The Key to Life by Linda Gerlach

Here is a review I have done for a perfume that has been out only for a few years (2008 ), I found it of great significance and perfect to feature on Cleopatra's Boudoir.

Moon Dust by QSLD

From The Moodie Report published 06/10/04--

"FRANCE. In association with 13 partners, Denis Boudard and Gael Ollard (QSLD New World Design) are launching a new limited-edition fragrance, called Moon Dust, at this month’s Luxe Pack in Monaco.

Significantly, the Moon Dust parfum is not for sale. A limited number of references have been created and will be offered to selected individuals during the course of the event. “We are designers; this is our vocation,” commented QSLD President, Art Director and Co-Initiator of the project Denis Boudard. “This Moon Dust project was a unique opportunity to express our personal vision of perfection…It’s an emotional response, it is also a harmonious alliance of dreams and passions.”

“Like the moon, this fragrance has a hidden side that each of us has to discern and capture,” added QSLD Executive Vice President Gael Ollard.

The juice, created by Firmenich, is described as subtle and authentic. It features sweet spices, freesia, heliotrope, amber grey lunar, vetiver and musk. The colour is a metallic grey.

The flacon combines traditional glass-making methods with new technology. A half-moon shape is built on a heavy, plain glass base that reveals a complex grid texture. The ringed cap is a dark metallic Zamac. The outer carton has a hologram interior.

The collaborators include:
Vision, design, communication and co-ordination
Agence QU’ON SE LE DISE and its US branch QSLD New World Inc. (D. Boudard, C. Guichard & G. Ollard)

The Moon Dust juice
FIRMENICH (R. Herpin & D. Rachmanis)

The flacon
HEINZ FLACONNAGE (R. Wurm)

The outer carton
- LGR-EMBALLAGES-NORTIER (R. Benouville)
- ELECTROPOLI (F. Vignes)
- API-GRP-HLSLAMINATES et CARTAE (P. Henstock and Y. Viaud)

Miscellaneous
- M-REAL-ZANDERS (C. Bougoin)
- COSFIBEL CREATIVE PACKAGING et PRIPLAK (C. Pierret and C. Nomerange)
- BIOPACK (S. Frémiot.)
- CLOZUP –Marc Martinon et Fabienne Mille
- FORMES DE LUXE – C. Paufique et S. Denoix

Note: Founded by Denis Boudard and his associates in 1993, QSLD has been at the centre of the French luxury scene for more than a decade. Today, Boudard and his creative team are making their debut in the US market. The new entity, called QSLD New World, specialises in developing packages that help luxury brands to reach their target markets. The company designs flasks and packages for upscale/premium fragrances, as well as for spirits & Champagnes. Clients to date include Procter & Gamble Beauty, Moet-Hennessy, Lacoste, Paco Rabanne, Lancôme, Escada, Guerlain, Oscar de la Renta, Coty/Lancaster, Krug, Mumm and Piper Heidsieck. The US activities are overseen by Gael Ollard, recently named Executive Vice President in charge of operations."

Article published in 2009 by Ron Romanik:

"It's among the stars that we must seek the beauty of Women and track the origins of life?" is how the dream was born. The dream was an ambition-defining and envelope-pushing one, initiated by Denis Boudard, president of QSLD and QSLD's Gael Ollard and Christophe Guichard. These dreamers simply wanted to see what 13 of the most creative designers they knew could come up with if they all worked together. 

"We are designers. This is our vocation!" explains Boudard. "The Moon Dust project was a unique occasion to express our personal vision of the perfection. It's an emotional response; it is also a harmonious alliance of dreams and passions." 

Modes of seraphic seduction
After coming up with a name, Moon Dust, they also defined their mission: to crystallize the emotions of the woman who considers her dreams, her desires, and her personal accomplishment as her one and unique quest. This moment of inspiration gave birth to an astral fragrance and equally inspired packaging, achieving "a journey out of time where furtive mirrors reflect eternal lights." 

"Like the Moon, this fragrance has a hidden side that each of us has to discern and capture," says Ollard. The Moon Dust fragrance is subtle and authentic, revealing notes of sweet spices, freesia flower, aldéhydée peony, blue jacinth, heliotrope flower, centifolia rose, essence of Bulgarian rose, amber grey lunar, roots of vetiver, and musk. Lightly colored with a delicate metallic grey tint, the perfume naturally captures reflections of lights. 

The bottle design combines traditional glass maker method and savoir-faire with new high-technology techniques. The half-moon shape rises above a heavy plain glass base that reveals a complex grid texture underneath the glass structure. The crisscross surface catches the light and enhances what the fragrance reflects. 

The cap was made in zinc-coated Zamac with a dark and deep metal color. This pipe-cap has been designed with an ostentatious ring on the top to provide an easy catch. The secondary package was printed in a deep black with two layers, and finished with a matte varnish combined with an additional hot stamping glossy varnish, and an extra hot stamping warm red mark. When opening, the box releases a blast of lights provided by a holographic film applied on the inside. 

There is just one catch
A shooting star is ephemeral, priceless and unique; likewise, Moon Dust Parfum is not actually for sale. Only a few thousand bottles were created for the Luxe Pack Monaco show last year. Moon Dust is the result of a unique collaboration of passionate people who contribute every day to the improvement of a certain idea of luxury. 

The creative crew at QSLD convinced 12 partners to bring their passion and their savoir-faire to achieve this exceptional product. As a result, the most talented people and the best technologies have been combined to produce a limited edition keepsake and promotional tool. 

QSLD has been at the center of the French luxury scene for more than a decade, and is now coming to U.S. market with QSLD New World. QSLD specializes in developing packages that help luxury brands to reach their target markets for companies such as Moet-Hennessy, Lancôme, and Oscar de la Renta."

My Review:

I was lucky enough to find a full bottle of this fragrance on ebay this year, so I figured I would write a review for the perfume. Unfortunately, the bottle did not come with it's original presentation box. 

The notes are: 

• sweet spices
• freesia flower
• aldéhydée peony
• blue jacinth
• heliotrope flower
• centifolia rose
• essence of Bulgarian rose
• amber grey lunar
• roots of vetiver
• musk

This fragrance appears to be an eau de parfum, its sillage is great. It has been 6 hours since I applied this perfume on my wrists and I can still smell it. In the dry down, I get a lot of the musk, the ambergris and the vetiver. I do smell some notes that aren't listed: Cashmeran, orris, violet leaf. Even though there are flowers listed in the notes, this is definitely a unisex fragrance. this is not a sweet or gourmand perfume. It is dry, dusty and musky. This smells like something Serge Lutens would offer. Personally, I think this is a wonderful fragrance. I will be sad when my bottle runs out!

Amber Grey Lunar is a fantasy fragrance accord by Firmenich, it is so beautiful!

Anya's Garden

Today I received a wonderful little gift in the mail, a package containing several samples of natural perfume from niche house Anya's Garden. Wonderful little bottles in a green satin pouch, all smelling great!

Anya's Garden is an actual place, an artisan perfumery located in Miami Florida, where the garden boasts lush jasmines, champakas, chinese perfume trees and many, many more fragrant plants. Anya is able to capture many of these rare essences for use in her exquisite perfumes.

The perfumery also sources the most rare and exquisite aromatics from all over the Earth. the great thing about this perfumery is that, whenever possible organic, wildcrafted and sustainable essences are used because that makes for a better, greener product.

The perfumery also only uses pure and natural aromatics from the land and sea and soil in the creation of the natural perfumes of Anya's Garden. Carriers such as organic grape or grain alcohol are used for the perfumes.

A unique characteristic of Anya's Garden is the usage of boxes made from the sustainable Daphne plant and recycled paper - and that's just the beginning of the beautiful story of the boxes. Each box is imbedded with wildflower seeds, so you can plant the box and grow your own garden in a pot or in the ground.

These are the Anya's Garden's current offerings that I have reviewed (my notes are after the description):

Amberess-(Rare musk rose from Africa opens this soft, lush amber perfume. Ten carefully-blended base notes provide a gorgeous amber base that melts into your skin.)



Fairchild-(Narcotic, hypnotic, changeable tropical passion, sparkling with flowers and salty from sea spray. Pandanus, champakas, jasmines, citrus, choya nakh, oakmoss, seaweed.)



Kaffir-(Lemon lime with a Thai twist, floral and leather and warm wood. Thai lime leaf, jasmines, yellow aloeswood.)



Kewdra-(Kewda flower melds with the iconic heroine Kudra of Jitterbug Perfume into a floral heart of Chinese Gardenia and Golden Boronia. Then the musk hits. Oh, the musk, sweet, sultry and like a second, sensual skin.)



Light-(A truly modern take on a classic cologne-style, blended as a pure perfume. Israeli yellow grapefruit, cedrat (citron) from Sicily, aglaia flower, genet, frankincense.)



Moondance-(Tuberose seduces you under the full moon, and you are lost in the stars. Water mint, violet flower, jasmine sambac, opoponax and other stellar aromatics.)



Pan-(A romp in the fields of Gods, magnetic and soft, seductive and a day in the sun that goes on forever)



RiverCali-(Pink pepper and roses float over citrus and musky vanilla that takes you to a lush desert oasis) This is definitely one of my favorites. It has the freshness of a vintage eau de cologne, full of oranges and mandarin, which brought me out of the doldrums today.



Royal Lotus-(Fit for a king or queen. Royal Lotus has a sparkling citrus top, a heart of the rarest, most costly aromatics such as blue and pink lotus, night blooming jasmine, and a soft, velvety base of sandalwood, ambergris and tonka bean.)



Starflower-(Candy flower, dreamy and steamy, almond cherry and lemon and foodie seeds and chocolate make tuberose the star of Mexico, an edible, sexy delight)


Temple-(Orange juice surprises you, spices warm you and exotic Oud soothes you.)

White Smoke-