Paloma Picasso Eau de Parfum by Paloma Picasso Review

Collage of Paloma Picasso perfume and its notes, including carnation, rose, mimosa, castoreum, lemon, amber, and civet.

Paloma reminds me of a stanza from one of my favorite poems, T. S. Eliot's "Rhapsody on a Windy Night":"The [...]

Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue by Atelier Cologne Review

Collage of Vanille Incensee and its notes: citron, lime, vanilla, oak, coriander, oakmoss, vetiver, amber, and jasmine.

Ah, the most divisive and controversial of woody vanillas.Dusty and sweet, Vanille Insensée is a woody [...]

By the Fireplace Eau de Toilette by Maison Martin Margiela Review

Collage of By the Fireplace and its notes, including vanilla, palo santo, cashmeran, cloves, pink pepper, and chestnut.

The smoky vanilla grandaddy of TikTok-viral perfumes beloved by Doc-Martens-wearing 20somethings far and wide, By [...]

Five O’Clock Au Gingembre Eau de Parfum by Serge Lutens Review

Collage of Five O'Clock Au Gingembre by Serge Lutens and its notes, including cinnamon, ginger, cinnamon, bergamot, and tea.

Five O'Clock Au Gingembre is delicious without being gourmand, woody without being wooden, and down-to-earth [...]

Fancy Eau de Parfum by Jessica Simpson Review

Collage of Fancy by Jessica Simpson and its notes including caramel, vanilla, berries, pear, apricot, milk, and sugar cookie.

First things first: Fancy isn't fancy by any definition.It doesn't feel expensive, or clever, or [...]

Eau Lente Eau de Toilette by Diptyque Review

Collage of Diptyque's Eau Lente and its notes, including cinnamon, opoponax, cloves, myrrh, vanilla, other spices, and resin.

On me, Eau Lente opens with a resinous clove bomb.It has a strong room scent aura, reminding me of a cloyingly [...]

Truth Sensual Bedtime Fragrance by Calvin Klein Review

Collage of Calvin Klein's Truth Sensual Bedtime Fragrance and its notes, including clover, bamboo, peony, mimosa, and amber.

The concept of "bedtime fragrances" has always made me giggle. It's such a brilliant way to market a linear scent [...]

Vetiver Eau de Toilette by Guerlain Review

Collage of Guerlain's Vetiver and its notes, including sage, bergamot, lemon, civet, myrrh, nutmeg, tea, tonka, and oakmoss.

Vetiver is not some sort of vetiver quasi-soliflor, but, rather, a well-balanced and ingenious flourish, filled [...]

Burberry Brit Eau de Parfum by Burberry Review

Collage of Burberry Brit and its notes, including vanilla, peony, amber, pear, almond, lime, sugar, tonka, and mahogany.

Despite the marketing, there is nothing here that feels particularly British or modern or traditional or clever. [...]

The Scentaur

The Scentaur