If you are visiting the UK or have recently seen this brand, your probably thinking is this worth buying?
Over the years I have found one or two fragrances that I have liked AND have managed to use the whole bottle in a jiffy. Tom Ford’s White Suede and Estee Lauder’s Pure White Linen (now discontinued) and Creed’s Love in White are three such fragrances
This brand is not one of them. Despite the long-lasting and superior quality of the fragrances I struggle
Therefore I have decided to test their bestsellers scent library – its a great safety net if you unlike me have accumulated too much “perfume junk”
And it cost GBP 25 so if I don’t use it I am ok with that.
Obviously, I am not looking for value for month – its a scent and not an insurance policy
What’s in the box
Listed scents are:
- Eau De Parfum
- Empressa
- Endymion Concentre
- Halfeti
- The Favourite
- Portraits The Coveted Rose
- Portraits The Tragedy of Lord George
- Eau de Toilette
- Blenheim Bouquet
- Juniper Sling
- Luna
- Eau de Cologne
- Quercus
What did I like?
The Favourite: I like this slightly sweet, feminine but fresh smell. Its not overpowering – notes are iris, musk, sandalwood and mimosa. All of these, I love. So to my surprise I like this and I would happily wear it
Juniper Sling: Initially this smells a bit like a heavy gin-tonic concoction. But it does settle down to a pleasant unisex fragrance that offers that slightly sensual smell of black pepper and another indistinguishable spice. I have smelt it before in stronger forms and I love the fresh and peppery notes that come with it. I am not sure I would wear this but if my lover did I would not complain. In fact if you are looking for a Valentine’s gift, this hits the right spots.
Empressa: I am trying hard to like this parfum and I think I have succeeded. It is a heady strong smell of vanilla with some peach and orange. Is it for me? Probably not – but its nice and I would wear it if I were a vanilla person
What did I hate?
Luna: Strong, sickly, sweet and overpowering powdery smell that is a cross between a slight orange scent and fir balsam (fresh pine smell). It smells a bit spicy after awhile – Hard pass
Duchess Rose: think sugary rose syrup. I really can’t stand this
What am I supremely indifferent about?
From Left to Right going clockwise
Endymion (blue bow): If you want to smell like – I don’t care how I smell and am supremely happy to blend into the wallpaper – then this is the parfum for you. Its supposed to smell a bit like coffee, bergamot and geranium. None of these blend to produce something gob-smackingly brilliant. Quite the opposite: underwhelmingly boring
Quercus (yellow bow): This is the only cologne in the range. If you like Molton Brown fresh smells – the type of fragrance that is indistinct an inoffensive, then meet your match. The notes are basil and lemon that I can smell
Halfeti (green bow): If you like Arabic perfume – by which I mean oudh based or strong woody smells this is for you.
Blenheim Bouquet (grey bow): This literally smells like a salted sherbet lemon. Its a bit spicy and sickly but overwhelmingly lemony. Its just not my thing.
Lord George (Antler head bottle): This is a male fragrance and it smells like bad aftershave
What would do I think overall?
Clearly most of these fragrances are overwhelmingly old-fashioned, strong and over-powering.
They don’t feel like they have a role to play in today’s era.
I don’t like them and I am glad I bought the scent library.
I am completely and utterly underwhelmed by this range
The main disadvantage of buying so many scents is I am completely disinclined to buy anything from this brand at all.
If I had a gun to my head, what is the one fragrance I would buy…
The Favourite which cost GBP 80 for 30ml. I would struggle to finish the bottle, so go figure