Hey, it’s 2014, and I’m hoping 2014 will be as good as 2013 as far as new releases. With the few I’ve smelled in the first few days of 2014, I’m a little encouraged!
Masque Milano debuted at Pitti Fragranze last fall. I thought we had hit every booth there except a few too crowded to get to with our achy feet, and we missed this one. Which is a shame, but at least that oversight is put right.
Masque Milano is a company formed by a couple of guys who love the theater, and the masque in the name refers to the masks we wear in theater and that perfume allows us to wear. They released three fragrances so far, with two more – a fabulous-sounding tea fragrance and Tango, described as perfection, and has notes of amber, jasmine sambac, turkish rose, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, tonka bean, benzoin, sandalwood, guaiac wood, cedar and melilotus (holy love, batman! – coming in 2014. Tango should be released pretty soon, I’m guessing.
First three in release are Montechristo, Terralba and Luci Ed Ombre. Montechristo is a haven for the leather/tobacco lovers out there. it’s got some amazing longevity and is a great smoky tobacco and leather. Notes of Cabreuva, Ambrette Seeds, Rum, Tobacco Leaves, Celery Seeds, Cistus, Benzoin, Golden Stone, Styrax Gum, Gaiac Wood, Cedar Wood, Patchouli. The ambrette and celery is an interesting addition to this, and it kinda works for me, giving a bit of a cuminy skank feel along with all that leather and tobacco. If you love tobacco and/or leather, definitely one to sniff. Complete love for me.
Luci Ed Ombre has notes of Incense, Ginger, Tuberose, Jasmine, Moss, Cedarwood, Patchouli. It is inspired by the play of shadow and light in the human soul. The earthy nature of moss and woods and incense contrasted with tuberose and jasmine curling up out of its center. There is a lot to love in this one. It has some interesting contrasts, but it doesn’t turn out to be my favorite.
Terralba has notes of Clary Sage, Lemon, Green Tangerine, Myrtle, Thyme, Curry Leaves, Everlasting Flower, Lentisque, Juniper, Cypress, Cedar Wood. It is inspired by the Mediterranean. Salt, sage, green, earthy, this is a rich, lush herbal green. It’s not exactly like the old Gobin-Daudes, but there are some note combinations that remind me of them, which is excellent since almost nothing ever reminds me of those much-missed scents.
I didn’t expect Terralba to be my favorite, but it was, closely followed by Montechristo. An interesting line, and I’m eager to see their next two scents and what else they will do in the future.
Profumum Sorriso is the newest release from this line. Profumum does gourmands better than about everything else they do, and they tend to be my faovrites in the line, with the exception of Aqua di Sale, which I adore. Bitter chocolate, bitter orange, woods, and vanilla isn’t listed, but it’s definitely in there. Gourmand in the sense of being foody, but not sweet. Cocoa-dusted oranges, which I would put right up there with one of my top three things in the world. If you’re not a huge fan of gourmands, but like the idea of them, Sorriso may be your gateway drug. Chocolate is a tough note for me to love in a perfume, but Sorriso is perfect. Huge fan of this perfume.
So we’ll do a draw this week of two sets of all four of these new releases. I was going to review the new MDCI gardenia scent, but I just have a small vial, and I have a hunch this one needs to be sprayed. So is everyone a block of ice yet? Does anyone know how I can fix my knitted hats so they aren’t so big? I’ve made like five hats, and all of them are way tooooo big. I have a big head, and I follow the pattern, and I swatch, but they just aren’t turning out all cute like I want them to. I’ve got another hat started where I went way small on the rib band on it, hoping that if the band is a great fit, then how big the rest of the hat is won’t matter. yes? I worry about attempting socks, they are likely to be monstrous.
Every one of those perfumes sounds intriguing! The only Profumum I’ve tried, Fumidus, I sampled this morning. Odd opening but a very nice vetiver! This is the first time participating in a drawing, let’s see how my luck rolls. Thanks for the chance!
Hope you stay warm!
I would love to try all three perfumes of Masque Milano. Montecristo sounds especially interesting. Thank you for the draw.
It is quite warm here (compared to typical January temperatures) – 44F. Although I am not sure it will last.
I ve never tried any of Profumum Roma perfumes but Sorriso sounds great and I would be happy to have a sample of it! Thanks for the drawing!
I guess you shouldn’t grow a bigger head :-). I can’t help as I don’t knit; however, I had at one point in my “domestic” duties, accidentally dried a wool sweater and it shrunk to something that could only fit a tiny poodle.
I would lover to try these scents. Thanks for the draw!
Been wanting to smell that Sorriso! It is -10 here in Montreal but at least it is sunny, yay! Thanks for entering me in the draw!
Lovely new scents, thankyou for the drawing!
Yes, I wimped out. Writing from fabulous Puerto Rico, where it is 82 today. I can’t wait to hear about the MDCI gardenia, and am excited about the new scents coming out. While here, I’ve tried to meet Juan Perez of Exotic Island Perfumers, but no luck. There is not a knitting bone in my entire body but when I was very small, my aunt knit herself a very exotic bathing suit to wear when we went to Galveston, with its black sand beaches. The story goes, she caught it on a nail at the pier and it slowly unraveled, until the underlining and straps were all that were left by the time she ran back to the hotel.
I am a knitter too! In fact my online time is mostly divided between ravelry.com and fragrance related sites. I can’t help you with your hats though. It sounds like you are doing everything just right! You are washing and blocking those swatches and letting them dry completely before measuring gauge?? I’ve had a few hats turn out enormous also, over the years—like hand knit trash can liners!! Happy knitting and sniffing!!
Hi there, I’m new to the blog & loving it! Though I don’t think I should be reading about perfume so much at work!!
It is in the low 30’s and snowing this morning here in the mountains of northeast WA, but that is one of the reasons we wanted to move here decades ago so I’m not complaining 🙂 I’m not a knitter but cross stitch is going strong (my designs are featured in this month’s Just Cross Stitch magazine, shamless self plug, lol )
Would love to try some of the frags in this draw!
Yes, I’m a block of ice here in freakin’ TEXAS. BOOOOOOOOOO!
The chocolate-orange thing sounds AMAZING.
We had one day of 40s temps … yesterday … getting warmer already. Don’t know how to knit so can’t help you there but I am very impressed with your skills, hat problems notwithstanding. Thanks for the draw, Patty. 🙂
I’m vacationing in FA right now, we spent twelve hours at the Magic Kingdom yesterday and it was around 34 degrees, better than the 18 degrees in my native Boston, but still exhausting.
Hi – yes please enter me in the draw! We’ve had our freeze here in Colorado and warmed back up to the 40s – positively balmy. Though I don’t mind snow and cold in the winter – our sky gets that gorgeous blue-white tint and I love having 4 seasons.
Here in the UK we don’t have the arctic freeze yet – just lots of flooding – I think the frozen weather is due to hit us at the end of this week though – I’m dreading it, as the place were currently staying in, dating from about 1800, has virtually no heating and holes in the walls which the wind is currently merrily sailing through!
All of those scents by Masque Milano sound absolutely fantastic -and perfect for this kind of weather – I can see I’m going to have to add them to my wish list!
Weather isn’t too bad here, at least compared to more northern areas. I’ve just made an insane impromptu vacation plan; in mid-February we are going to a remote and restaurant-less location to stay in a cabin with no electricity and listen to the sanctuary wolves howl under the full moon. Don’t know what sort of perfume to wear for this very unique occasion. Maybe Nuit Noire, except the wolves might actually eat me. Will have to come up with a suitable and safe fragrance choice.
Best of luck with your projects, Patty. Would love to see a picture of your hats.
It is soooo cold here. I have been taking naps every 30 minutes. I know nothing about knitting sadly so I cannot suggest anything. I have curly fingers :/ I do have a huge head tho 😉
In the winter I crave scents like Montecristo for sure.
Thanks!
Sorry, your knitting ability is way beyond mine, but many people have made some great suggestions for fixing your hat problem. Freezing here in Cleveland, along with everybody else in the Midwest. These scents sound great and I would love to try. Thanks!
Been frozen in upstate NY for a while now! Would be honored to try any of the fragrances in this post! Thanks for the draw and stay warm!!!
Thanks for the Draw! I was about to check these out on Luckyscent. Right now I’m wearing Calyx, because I want to pretend it’s the late 80’s and that it’s summer! I just got to see Peter Wolf from the J. Geils band in NYC this weekend, and I’m reliving New York City the way it used to be. Freezeframe!
Stay warm everyone, I can send you some heat wave from down here if you like…
Good advice Patty about tension and a smaller needle size for your hats, or just make kiddy sizes!
The Profumum sounds right up my alley
These all sounds pretty darn good, Tango especially. I am looking for a gourmand to love, too, so maybe this is the house that can do it!
I thrive on this insane weather…we’ve been hovering for several days at zero for our highs, with windchills down to 20 below. I feel so invigorated. I just love it. Sadly, we got up to 34 today and will see the 50s by the end of the week. Behold my sadface.
No clue about your hats…but good luck! Sounds like you’ve gotten some good advice from the Possie peeps.
Happy New Year Patty! Sorriso sounds like it would be right up my alley – chocolate and oranges! I can’t offer you much advice with your hat predicament – I have the same problem with mittens. I make swatches, I measure and I still end up with catchers mitts! Oh well, at least they’re great for layering and the cuffs go way up my arm!
I wish I could help you with the hat fit, but I have scale/fit problems when I knit as well. The Masque Milano scents all sound very intriguing. I have to admit I’m most curious about Terralba and Tango. I can’t complain about my weather temperature since I’m in CA. Although, it would be nice to have some rain/snow in the mountains so the reservoirs are refilled and to avoid water rationing this summer.
Thanks for the drawing. Terra alba sounds like me.
I don’t know how to knit, but I do bead. It sounds to me like you may have a very loose hand, resulting in each sticth being a bit bigger than most people.
Agreed. Profumum does a mean gourmand. Freezing with kids home on an extended Christmas vacation due to weather.
Thanks and stay warm everyone!
It’s been nice and sunny the last couple of days here. And I know nothing of knitting.
It’s very cold here in Jersey. I am wearing Spicebomb for men to spice up my blood. I’d love to try Terralba. I like the idea of a lush herbal scent.
Thanks.
Here is crazy cold. It feels like -9F so its enough to make me sleepy, lethargic, and a bit stupid. My husband works next to me like there’s no tomorrow while my eyes wonder slowly around, trying to find some thought, an idea, anything, but no: my mind is frozen.
I think Montecristo sounds divine! Oh god MDCI Gardenia, yes please!
“sees” not “seed”!
I am amazed at the difference a little humidity in the house makes in my perception of warmth. I put out pans of water and a difference of 6%due to their evaporation makes me feel much warmer. No clue about the hats, I only embroider!
Those fragrances sound amazing. Montechristo sounds right up my alley.
You might try smaller needles to compensate… Socks are great if you don’t want to commit to sleeves but want something bigger than hats. I’m about an advanced beginner and have done several pairs. They don’t have to be perfect since no one seed them. Lol. Love this draw! Thank you!
I had to go to work this morning, and I went to start up my car and it started whining…seriously. I did not stick around to find out what it was…went inside to make a cup of tea, got my stuff together, went out and lo and behold (darn it) the car was humming along just fine. I guess it did not want to go in the cold…neither did I, but we made it into work here in the wild suburbs of Philly, where it is right now 8* with a wind chill of -15*…BRRRR!!!!
I would love to try these new scents. Thanks for the draw.
I keep wanting to go get some slice and bake cookies but am overruled by the part of my brain that is going “Seriously? You know it’s 4degrees out with wind chill taking it into the negatives?” Terralba sounds like something to try since I only recently realized that I have an herbal gap in my collection
hope all of you stay warm and cosy-don’t know what to do with too big hats, sorry
still you need to start on socks, you know
would love to sample these new ones-thanks for the draw
All pf these new perfumes sound great! I have been staying in as much as possible, as the weather where I live is unbelievably cold.
These new scents sound very intriguing, so please enter me in the draw! It is very cold here in Virginia and my heat pump just can’t keep up. I hope you are keeping warm.
Agreeing with Ellen re elastic or maybe a couple of discreet darts. Actually above zero over here and rainy as usual.
I can’t really help you with advice for your hat knitting since it takes quite an effort for me to sew the occasional hole in my socks. Montechristo certainly sounds interesting. Thank you for the generous draw.
I’m impressed that so many commenters actually have suggestions for the hats! I haven’t tried to knit in decades, but your adventures are inspiring me to sign up for a class. I’m going to pile on all my knit- and wool-ware before venturing out to work this morning! Hope everyone stays warm and safe through the deep-freeze.
I am very intrigued by Masque perfumes…and tobacco with leather are magical to me!
Thanks for the draw.
The weather reminds me of being a teenager in the 70s. Those Jimmy Carter energy conservation measures come back to me so we’ve sealed off the porch and dress in lots of layers and stay inside. I’m intrigued by the incense ginger tuberose!
very cold but it’s dry. the orange and chocolate sounds fantastic.
Sorriso sounds niiice. I’ve never tried any of the Profumums. I have a theory that Gobin-Daudes are the perfume equivalent of a snipe hunt, or cow-tipping if you’re from the Midwest.
These all sound so good! Need a major distraction as it is now -32 degrees F, with the wind chill.
I would take positive wind chill right now.
Stay warm, Patty!
The fumes sound amazing, thank’s for the draw!
I have enjoyed knitting – but for me I have been content to knit items like scarves and “throws”. When sizing matters, perhaps make a swatch and then switch to a smaller needle size?
These perfumes sound awesome. I’m finding a great deal of interest in these “indie” perfumers. The artistry tends to amaze me!
Thanks for the draw. 🙂
Luci Ed Ombre sounds awesome. Can you weave a thin elastic band through every few stitches to tighten up the hats? Weather is very chilly here tonight. Am wearing Mitzah to keep warm. Thanks for the draw.
Any scent described as a rich, lush herbal green definitely has my attention.
Thanks for the drawing.
Are all these hats knitted using the same pattern? If so, use smaller needles next time. Or, cast on a smaller number of stitches at the brim, and add on stitches when you get to the main part of the hat. You might just be a person who knits a bit “loosely” which translates into a slightly larger finished item. I only knitter one pair of socks, many years ago. The first was HUGE, and the second was perfect. If I did it again, I would knit them both at the same time!!
For the next couple days, I’m looking at temps below zero here and I’ve loaded up on chai and tons of Amouage to get me through. I don’t sew or knit because I can’t sit still long enough to do it.
Sorriso has been one I’ve been really wanting to smell. Profumum fragrances are phenomenal. The notes sound great. Thanks for the draw. I’m also intrigued by the description of Montechristo. Thanks again!
Hey girl — what about rolling up the brim and pulling it down further? I do this with a lot of my wooly hats, since nothing seems to fit my noggin properly. These perfumes definitely have my attentino once I saw the magical words Gobin-Daude…stay toasty, perfume peeps!
Terralba sounds especially great, and I could use a little Mediterranean vibe, sitting snug in my house waiting for the temp to drop to -21 tonight. Brr stay warm, and suggest that you do the swatch, and then go down a needle size from what you think is the right size, if that makes sense.
Patty, how about sewing a plastic hair comb inside them to hold them on? I do that with a tam that’s kind of loose on me. The new line of scents sound really nice. I think the notes in Terralba and Tango sound great. Thanks for doing a drawing.
Frog and Toad have a story where Toad’s hat is too big, so Frog tells him to try to think big thoughts to make his head bigger, then sneaks in and shrinks the hat overnight. Perhaps tell your friends to think big? I have a four year old so these stories are fresh in my mind, but perhaps you remember them from your childhood? I love green scents, and Terralba sounds fascinating.
I have a hard enough time knitting squares and rectangles that look like, well, squares and rectangles so I don’t have any advice about making smaller hats, sorry 🙁 Would it help a little to sew in a fleece lining, perhaps? The Masque Milano scents all sound amazing, especially Montecristo. Thank you for the draw, and good luck staying warm!
It’s in the negative teens here under a foot of snow. However, so far I’ve been toasty inside. Tomorrow will be warming up to 0 so I’ll probably head in to work and freeze my patootie.
Good luck to everyone!