• About
  • Login to comment
    • Bluesky
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Archives

Satellite Padparadscha fragrance review

Posted by Robin on 20 February 2006 14 Comments

Satellite Padparadscha

Satellite is a Paris-based jewelry line that was launched by Sandrine Dulon in the late 1980s. Dulon was originally an ethnologist, and her designs are inspired by the antique jewels and other materials she discovered on her travels. The line's first fragrance, Padparadscha, is named for the rare Padparadscha sapphire, and the notes include amber, musk, cedar, sandalwood, juniper and pepper.

Padparadscha starts with a nice burst of pepper, and softens to a mildly spicy blend of woods. The juniper gives it a slightly herbal cast, and the amber adds warmth without any sweetness. It is slightly earthy in the early stages; later, it is smoother, and sandalwood and musk are the predominant notes. There is a perhaps a smidgen of powder, but the overall finish is dry (really, really dry), so it might more properly be called dusty.

The first time I tried Padparadscha, I had the distinct feeling that I had smelled it before. After trying it next to everything similar I could think of, I would say it isn't a dead ringer for anything else I can find, but it is in the same vein as many other dry wood fragrances, several of which have already been mentioned in conjuction with Padparadscha on the fragrance boards: Ginestet Le Boise, Christian Lacroix Tumulte Pour Homme, or the woodier of the Comme des Garçons Incense series. So it isn't startlingly unique, but it is a lovely fragrance in its own right, and like the others mentioned above, it has a comforting quality that is perfect for another blah day in mid-February.

It is rather mild and close to the skin. The lasting power is almost but not quite what you would expect from an Eau de Parfum, but it is priced like an Eau de Toilette anyway — $65 for 100 ml, very reasonable for a niche fragrance — so I have no complaints. And the packaging is gorgeous.

Padparadscha is available at luckyscent in the US or first-in-fragrance in Germany. Satellite also has a boutique on West Broadway in Soho.

Possibly of interest

Satellite Padparadscha Noir ~ new fragrance
Satellite A La Figue!, Ipanema, Corrida, 40 a l'Ombre ~ new fragrances at Luckyscent

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: satellite

Advertisement


14 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 3:16 pm

    Robin is the bottle itself orange or is that the juice? It IS such a magnificent bottle. I'm looking forward to smelling this. Lovely review, thank you.

    Log in to Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 3:44 pm

    It is the juice. It is a sort of orangish-pink, which I guess is the color of the Padparadscha sapphire. I think this one might actually appeal to men more than women, given that it is so dry, and juniper also tends to seem more masculine than feminine.

    Log in to Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 4:04 pm

    yes well it definitely seems like something that I would wear and I do love Juniper (especially in Creed's Geneivre). I've been admiring that bottle on luckyscent since they first started carrying it.

    Log in to Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 4:25 pm

    The bottle is beautiful, and it sounds like a perfect woody fragrance for those who love this theme. Thanks for a lovely review!

    Log in to Reply
  5. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 4:32 pm

    I am having such a blah day, I wish I had some Padparadscha. 🙂 It sounds like something I might really like. Thank you very much for the review, R!

    Log in to Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 5:10 pm

    The bottle is very tempting, especially with the price!

    Log in to Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 5:11 pm

    V, trying to decide if you would like it and can't decide.

    Log in to Reply
  8. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 5:12 pm

    Blah, blah, blah…I just detest February in PA!

    Log in to Reply
  9. Anonymous says:
    20 February 2006 at 5:30 pm

    and what a wretched February it has turned out to be here in PA, yes?! I wish it would pick a temperature and stay there. One day it's practically 85 and sunny and the next day you have 22 inches of snow on the ground and when you wake up the day after that – 22 inches melted mysteriously overnight – what sadist is responsible for all of this?

    Log in to Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    21 February 2006 at 10:38 am

    Your right on that MarkDavid, February's in Baltimore are just as confusing temperature wise, I love Costume National Scent Intense better. I don't know why but I just do.

    Log in to Reply
  11. Anonymous says:
    21 February 2006 at 11:45 am

    So glad you reviewed this, R.! I really like it. On me it's all dry woods and amber; I never get any musk out of it at all. I won't buy this one, but I'm enjoying my sample!

    Log in to Reply
  12. Anonymous says:
    21 February 2006 at 12:56 pm

    I have to look for this soon. Thanks for the lovely review R! Hope all is well.

    My name means blue sapphire and I am keen to try this. ;D

    Log in to Reply
  13. Anonymous says:
    21 February 2006 at 1:41 pm

    Not sure if I'll end up buying it either…too soon to tell! I want to try it next to the CdG incenses again. But it is very nicely done & I wouldn't mind owning that bottle 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  14. Anonymous says:
    21 February 2006 at 1:41 pm

    I didn't know that N! You'll have to talk them into a follow-up fragrance release 🙂

    Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

15 March ~ swapmeet

3 April ~ damage poll
26 April ~ splitmeet

3 May ~ spring reading poll
17 May ~ Haiku challenge!

 

Back to Top

Home
Archives
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Books

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2025 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.