fragrance

Eating Crow – September 2014

Crow

I had said in my 6th Blogiversary post that I’d like to start doing a feature where I revisit perfumes to see if my “eaupinions” have changed. I said I wasn’t afraid to eat crow…and I’m not.

I think the best way to handle this new monthly feature is to resniff and wear 4-5 perfumes that I’ve reviewed in the past to see if my thoughts on these perfumes have changed. In 6+ years, I’m sure there will be some crow eating.

So, let’s getting started with some fragrances that I think are “autumn-y”:

 

Montale Blue Amber EDP: review published April 13th, 2011.

Initial thoughts – I called this a “cyborg amber” because it was like a cool amber that warms up, gaining “human” feelings.

Today’s thoughts – Over three years later and I’d still describe it exactly the same. It opens like coriander and industrial glue, some “green” patchouli, sharp leather and then dries down a warm vanilla amber. Actually, I’m pretty sure that I like this one more now than I did back then. There are so many ambers out there and there’s just something charming about this cyborg amber.

 

DSH Perfumes Pandora EDP: review published September 12th, 2011

Initial thoughts – I pretty much flipped out over this vintage-smelling perfume. I called it “an old-fashioned chypre with a pitch black helmet-like bob and pencil thin brows”. I also called it very “me”.

Today’s thoughts: One of the things that I’ve learned about myself now that I’m out of my 20’s, is that life is so fluid and ever evolving. Over the past few years in general, my tastes have changed, my careers have changed, my scenery has changed. Nothing is really “me” unless it’s me. Saying all of that, I still think Pandora is a stunning vintage-inspired perfume. It’s still intoxicating, so vampy. Saying that, it’s not something that I see myself wearing much of these days as my tastes in general have changed to more futurist. Pandora is exceptionally crafted and you must try it if you like vintage perfumes. The only crow I’m really eating here is the “me” part but that’s expected when someone openly shares stuff like that for over 6 years. At the time, this was perfect for me. Now it’s merely a beautiful vintage-inspired perfume. I still recommend it. I still swoon over it. DSH is an awesome perfumer.

By Kilian Amber Oud

By Kilian Amber Oud EDP: review published March 7th, 2013

Today’s thoughts: I couldn’t stand it. It reminded me of cornichons. I called it a “deli in a sacred temple”.

Today’s thoughts: This go around, I get much more of the cedar and smoke. There’s still benzoin. Do I still get charcuterie and cute little pickles? Yeah, I do. But, I will say that it’s much less repulsive than I thought last year. My “eaupinion” hasn’t really changed that much (but, I do tolerate it more these days). Saying that, I do recommend it to people that like their ambers less sweet. But, I hate even bringing it up because of the jumbo price tag. FYI – *I* still prefer The Body Shop Amber Oud over this amber oud.

 

Juliette Has a Gun Calamity J EDP – review published January 12th, 2011

Initial thoughts: I liked this powdery amber. It was one people complimented me on. I liked it.

Today’s thoughts: Looking back at this, I think I know why I liked it so much. It reminds me vaguely of Prada L’Eau Ambrée (which I adore). There’s more patchouli and cinnamon in Calamity J. but they’re both the same sort of smooth, modern, powdery ambers that I like. Anyway,now I notice the spices in this much more. I’ve also tried more JHaG perfumes over the years and I think this is still one of the best that the line has to offer. The newer ones haven’t been that good.

 

Smell Bent Lumberjack Werewolf: review published October 7th, 2010

Initial thoughts: Damn if I know. Geez, I’d like to hope that my writing has improved. I think I liked it. It said it smelled like rotting wood and animalic musk. I said skank a lot.

Today’s thoughts: It’s still forest mildew but now I get more of the cedar and yes, the musk.  It’s a skanky musk but I’ll only say that once this time 😉 There’s a hint of earthy mushrooms and grungy civet. Actually wearing this again, I don’t get why I didn’t flip out over it more. It’s like the H&M version of Serge Lutens Musc Koublai Khan or CB I Hate Perfume CBMusk, the budget-friendly version. Anyway, you probably need this if you like dirty musks (I can say stuff like that now that I’m more experienced, right?).

This go around, I don’t think I ate too much crow. My feelings are about the same with these. There weren’t any big “take backs”. It was nice to go back and sniff these things, it’s so easy to get involved with the “new” stuff and forget about all these things that I took the time to write about. It also gives you a chance to comment on your impressions if you have happened to try these after I posted a review.


 *Fish Crow illustration from National Geographic. By Kilian from Fragrantica.


2 thoughts on “Eating Crow – September 2014

  1. I was just thinking of pulling my decant of BK Amber Oud out of storage after reading Kafkaesque’s post on PdN Amber Oud. Here’s another reason to. At the time I blind bought it (I think 2 years ago), it was an easily wearable amber woody fragrance, thank goodness. Unisex. But I didn’t have a strong opinion about it. Wore it a few times then forgot about it. I get the feeling that it’s like Prada Candy, which I rate 4 out of 5, and consider an easy to wear autumn scent. Candy isn’t Top 10, but I like it a LOT because I generally prefer ‘wearable’ styles over ‘strange’ or too…too. 🙂 So I’m curious if Amber Oud is still in a similar camp. It’s the only one on your list that I’ve tried.

    1. Amber Oud is one of those that really has a fan base, I see why, it’s not like a “sweet amber”, it’s dry. Who knows, maybe it’ll grow on me.

      I love Prada Candy. I know it’s not the most interesting thing out there, but geez, I wear it so much. It’s like you said, “wearable” and I like wearing it and it smells good. That’s another one that I need to pull back out…

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