#pefumelover

[thefruittreewild]

With tomorrow being Valentine's Day, I've dubbed today Self-Love Sunday for those of us who are single and satisfied.😊

What does self love smell like? I'm choosing Andalusian Soul by the Merchant of Venice. This cozy amber-vanilla fragrance feels like the epitome of pampered evenings with aromatherapy candles, bubble baths, decadent chocolate and a good cocktail.

The progression on this is extremely modest but it's such a comforting feel-good scent that I am not too upset about it. I would have loved if the boozy and smoky notes were more prominent but Andalusian Soul is still lovely, especially if you are mad about vanilla.

So go on, treat yourself. You're worth it. 🌹💋

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Top Notes: Acacia, Amber, Rum Middle Notes: Balsamic Accord, Cistus, Labdanum, Smoky Accord Base Notes: Amber, Sage, Vanilla

[thefruittreewild]

I can't believe February is already here. I'm starting to get in the Valentine's mood though and what better perfume to get in the spirit than Burning Rose by Carolina Herrera?

For me this is the perfect rose: smoky, spicy and like the name implies, it is not the fresh innocent rose, but the burnt redolent petals of incense. Just gorgeous, and in a beautiful bottle to boot.

[thefruittreewild]

The scent of ... volatility?

Today, I'm reviewing BTC pour Homme by Aroma Concepts. Turns out #bitcoin smells pretty darn good. I live for finding these quirky scent concepts. From a collector's perspective it also feels representative of our times.

BTC pour Homme is a pleasant spicy, smoky leathery fragrance. There is apparently real Laotian oud in here which may explain the modest 30ml bottle while all the other scents on the aroma concepts site are more in the 100ml range. It's pretty hard to parse which notes are top, middle and base notes based on how they are listed on the site but here they are anyway. Let me know if you've tried this one!

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Notes:

Lavender, Bergamot, Cypress, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Styrax, Artemisia, Cardamom, Apple

Agarwood from Laos(Oud), Saffron, Leather, Tobacco, Cedar, Tonka Beans, Musk, Amber, Cypress, Cashmeran, Guaiac Wood

Vetiver, Sandalwood, Geranium, Labdanum, Floral, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley

[thefruittreewild]

I'm always excited to discover inexpensive perfumes that have been crafted by famous noses. Enter St. Dupont a la Francaise pour Femme which was created by Bertrand Duchaufour. There was a single 3 star rating and no reviews on Fragrantica, but the red wine top note intrigued me enough to buy it.

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Now, I'm not sure what kind of wine Monsieur Duchafour is drinking but I detect none in St. Dupont a la Francaise. However, it is a really pretty fruity floral with a woody-musky drydown. The rose, jasmine and gardenia come through most strongly for me throughout the life of the fragrance but the other florals remain in the background, supporting and smoothing them out along with the persistent sweetness of the black currant and orange.

Am I saying this is a $300 perfume masquerading in a $40 bottle? No, but this still has a feminine allure. I imagine a woman in an ivory silk chemise, sitting at her vanity and brushing her dark hair, her skin faintly damp from a recent bath with finely milled soap.

Is this the perfume you'll want to wear above all others in your collection? No. In some ways, it's pretty unremarkable, especially considering how close it sits to the skin (though longevity is solid). But especially as it dries down, la Francaise is so naturally fresh that it is what you wished you smelled like without perfume, or how you wish a partner would recall your scent.

Overall, I'd call this a safe blind buy if you like feminine florals.