Orange blossom is one of my favorite perfume notes. Here are three I tried recently that were not included in earlier posts (see Italian Orange Blossom fragrances and Back to Orange Blossoms):
Bourbon French Orange Blossom: Bourbon French is a 160 year old perfumery located in the French Quarter in New Orleans…
CB OUTSIDE, from CB I Hate Perfume, is like a cross between a perfume and a bug repellent. It is made from plant oils that bugs don't like, including cedar, lavender, geranium, and marigold, and can be used on skin or clothing. If you are the camping type, you can also use it on your tent or sleeping bag.
This is a great idea for a natural alternative to DEET-based products, but since it isn't yet high bug season here, I can't really comment on how well it works. Your reaction to the smell will probably be determined by how much you like the predominant notes. I love cedar but don't much care for lavender. The lavender here is not overly sharp or harsh, and is softened by the geranium and marigold, so I find the aroma pleasant, but it isn't necessarily something I would wear for the fragrance alone.
I will be testing this out over the course of the summer, and will report back on how well it works. OUTSIDE has a nice, light, non-greasy consistency.
Today I am trying two perfumes from the CB I Hate Perfume line. The fragrances are perfume absolutes in an oil base, and like most oil-based formulas, they stay relatively close to the skin. They are very long lasting, and evolve slowly.
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday: This fragrance was inspired by the movie of the same name (which I have never seen, but which is now waiting patiently in my Netflix queue). It is described as “the salty breath of the breeze off the sea, driftwood, rocks covered with seaweed and the smell of old leather suitcases”.
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday starts very bright, with the tangy-salty smell of sea air and water. It mellows and deepens over the next hour, adding woody undertones, and later still, a very subtle hint of leather — I’m not sure I would have noticed it if I wasn’t looking for that old leather suitcase…
Harrods is having their July sale, and selected Amouage fragrances are 25% off. The Heritage collection, the Attars, and Asana are not included in the sale. To arrange mail order, email perfumery@harrods.com with your name and telephone number, or call Raymond Wong or Sukriye Mustafa at (0044) 0207 730 1234 ext 3009.
Thank you to Sand for letting me know that b-glowing will be having a sale from July 2 through July 4. Get 20% off with code: america.
Thanks to Vicky for letting me know that Fragonard has a new fragrance, Canisse:
An evocation of those early yet already warm hours of Mediterranean summer mornings when every fragrance is burgeoning: the spicy smell of basil and oregano, the sharp scent of tomato leaves, the delicate perfume of vineyard peaches, all wrapped in a full-bodied bouquet of white flowers dominated by jasmine.