Ormonde Jayne Black Gold Extrait & Parfum d’Empire Corsica Furiosa Reviews are coming up, but first! (sorry, it’s full-tilt Big Brother season, and as much as I hate myself for watching it, I just can’t quit you, BB) let’s do winners from past giveaways.
Winners of the Serge Lutens L’Orpheline samples – Bastet, Angela, Ingeborg and Neva.
Winners of the two Tom Ford samples – MaureenC, foxbins and Kaijsa. For all of you, click on Drop us a Note at the top of this page, send me an e-mail telling me what you have won and your address. I’ll send you a quick confirming e-mail so you know it didn’t land in my spam filter (it’s crazy how much stuff does!). Then I’ll get the samples mailed out to you.
So le’ts go through Ormonde Jayne Black Gold extrait. the bad news, it is available only at Harrod’s in London. Created by Geza Schoen with notes of bergamot, lemon, mandarine, clary sage, juniper berry, orchids, rose, water lilies, jasmine, carnation, oud, pink pepper, sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, vanilla, labdanum, moss, musk, cedar, ambrette seed and amber. This has the distinctive Ormonde Jayne base, but is drawn from luxury materials and is in the extrait. A herby-citrus open with pepper and peppery carnation punching olfactory holes in that sparkling open. Florals and oud smooth out what could be a little masculine. Give this time, and the beautiful incense/sandalwood/moss base lets all of these notes that have been dancing wildly rest.
Ormonde Jayne Black Gold is just gorgeous and easily the best release they’ve done in a long time. The downside is how hard it is to get ahold of. My hope is eventually it will go in wider distribution. It’s still well worth pursuing if you are a fan of the line. I am, and I really love this. Also check out Mark’s review at Colognoisseur.
Patrfum d’Empire Corsica Furiosa is the latest 2014 release from this creative perfume line. I’ve expected great scents and innovation from Parfum d’Empire and worry with every new release that I might be let down. With Cosrica Furiosa, they have focused on lentiscus, native to Corsica. Notes of Lentiscus oil, eau-de-vie, nepita (a local variety of wild mint), lentiscus absolute, tomato leaf, pepper, lentiscus extract original, cistus, oakmoss make up this tribute to the homeland of the line’s owner, Marc-Antoine Corticchiato. This isn’t shy. It lays waste to everything you thought you wanted in a perfume with smoking hay and tomato leaf and pepper. I had no idea you could light fire to the earth and all of its greenery and let it just smoke around your nose, but Parfum d’Empire Corsica Furiosa does just that. The first 30 minutes are spectacular and unique, and I can’t think of anything else quite like it, and I’d happily keep reapplying all day just to get that bit of amazing originality. It does settle into a bed of oakmoss and stops huffing green smoke so furiously, settling into an almost figgy smell. You do keep the smoking green monster, but it is tamer, gentler and equally interesting.
This is one of my favorite Parfum d’Empire scents, and that’s saying a lot because I love so many. Unisex and ready to go in any season. Green perfumers are normally not favorites of mine, with a few notable exceptions, and this is one. This may well hit the top of my favorites list for the year.
So! Will do a drawing for two winners getting a sample of each from commenters. Have you tried any Parfum d’Empire, and do you like what they do or no?
Hi – I’ve tried 3 x Parfums d’Empire and really like the feel of the range and have Cuir Ottoman on my buy list but annoyingly they have got rid of their 50ml bottles with the repackaging. 100mls just seems so huge to me these days. I have the sampler set from Ormonde Jayne and have liked a few of them – Ta’if, Tolu and Orris Noir. Thanks for the draw.
I haven’t tried any of the Parfums d’Empire line yet but would love to. The Black Gold is also lovely and it drives me crazy that you can’t get it here in the states. Ugh!!!! Hope that it is eventually avail. I tried getting in touch with Ormond Jayne co directly to see if they’d send me a sample. No go. 🙁
I haven’t tried any of the PdE yet (I really don’t know why).
I have sniffed through OJ (excluding Black Gold and the Corners of the Earth series). My favourites are Tolu extrait, Ta’if and Woman.
I love Azemour des Orangers. It just really hits the spot for me.
Thanks so much for the drawing.
The Ormonde Jayne line leaves me rather cold, with one exception: Tolu. I love this stuff and it seems to share some notes with the new black gold extrait, so I would be happy to get my hands on some drops 🙂
Parfums d’Empire is a perfume house that speaks more to me, I like the concept behind the perfumes. So far, Cuir Ottoman is my favourite although not quite full botte worthy (considering these huge 100 ml bottles…). Corsica Furiosa sounds like a great newcomer!
Thanks for the draw and the reviews! 🙂
I’ve tried Ambre Russe and found its brash booziness appealing, if not something I’d wear on a regular basis. Corsica Furiosa sounds delicious, though.
Haven’t tried anything from the line, but I would love to. Thank you for the draw!
I have tried Fougere Bengale, and like someone said above, it was great but too typically “masculine” for me to really wear. My sample will go to my fragrance loving brother. I had a sample of Musc Tonkin and it absolutely blew my mind. Too bad it was already gone gone gone by the time I thought about buying myself some. I should use up my sample, but I am hoarding my few drops. Like a tamed tiger, that one. Gah, I’m getting depressed just thinking about it!
Haven’t tried anything from PdE, but I would love to. Thanks for the draw!
Please enter me if it’s still open…Cuir Ottoman is my favorite so far but Corsica Furiosa sounds amazing!!
Ooh, so excited about the TF samples–I sent a note.
I quite like a few of the Ormande Jayne scents, but a friend I turned on to them bought a discovery set for her sister who called the majority of them too old lady. They are quite heavy–I’ll have to work at finding some Black Gold.
I’ve loved PdE’s stuff I’ve tried and am solidly in love with Wazamba. The Corsica Furiosa may be the first one I don’t like, as tomato leaf makes me choke. I’m allergic to tomato, though, and I even react to the smell of the plants. Sounds interesting with the hay and oakmoss, but no.
I have samples of PdE Aziyade, Equistrius and Yuzu Fou. I love the Cola note in Aziyade, but its too heavy on the cumin for me. (I’m fine with cumin sometimes, other times it turns into a big old celery B.O. monster)
My inner Harry Potter geek hears most of those PdE titles being cast as spells in Hermione’s voice (It’s Corsica Furi-O-sa not Furio-SA). I’m so sorry 🙂 That smokey green monster sounds right up my alley.
I’m very interested in these new OJ’s and will definitely sniff out some samples. My favourite OJ’s are Orris Noir, Ta’if and Tolu.
Oh, yes Ambre Russe is beyond expectations
Thanks for the draw
I’ve only tried a few PdE, did not like Iskander or Azyade but really liked Cuir Ottoman, the mixture of leather, iris and balsam is amazing. I can wear Wazamba when I’m right mood, I mostly love it but the labdanum puts me off sometimes.
I’ve only tried one PdE, and it wasn’t what I was looking for at the time (I was looking for a soft leather) but there are several that sound right up my alley, like Azemour Les Orangers and Corsica Furiosa which both have lovely names. I love many of the Ormonde Jayne line, too, and even own a decant of 20LTD’s Seraphim and several travel sprays from the newest line that she put out, though my favorite OJ is Tiare.
I love Wazamba, Aziyade, Ambre Russe and Cuir Ottoman. I also got to try Corsica Furiosa this weekend. Whoa! That stuff takes no prisoners. Wish it came in a smaller bottle, it is so potent 15ml would be a lifetime supply for me.
I have tried and quite liked PdE Wazamba thanks to generous swap pal. Hay and tomato leaf are even more tempting.
I tried Azemour les Orangers and it is excellent for anyone wanting something green to go with the neroli and orange blosom. Parfums d’Empire is an interesting brand, but not available locally, so I have not explored it much.
On another note, I seem to be the lucky winner of one of the L’Orpheline samples, but have not received any notice from Patty that she received my maiing address. It would be my first win in a blog draw I think, so would hate to miss out on it.
I’ve tried a couple from Parfums de Empire, rather hit and miss so far, and I’d have to say no, I don’t like what they do so far.
i have never tried anything from either one and would really love to make a start!! thanks for the draw : )
Azemour and Equistrius are my two favorites in the PdE line.
Never tried any, but this one sounds amazing, and the general aesthetics of the line appeals to me.
oooh, so cool! I have tried a couple from PdE and liked them a lot–Equistrius and Fougere Bengale. Always wanted to try more.
OJ is right on my wavelength, OJ Woman is my desert-island scent (or at least top 5). Black and Gold sounds quite interesting!
Love Ta’if from Ormonde Jayne and would love to try this new one. From Parfums d’Empire Equistrius is my favorite of the ones I’ve tried, followed by Cuir Ottoman
These both sound wonderful. I have liked almost everything I’ve tried from PdE–even with the ones that aren’t something I’d usually wear, I always think they’re so well done and original–so it’s good to hear Corsica Furiosa lives up to the reputation.
I love OJ (especially isfarkand) and would love to try black gold. I haven’t tried any of the parfumerie d’empire, but this one sounds interesting!
Thanks for the draw!
I love PdE’s Ambre Russe. What a great amber! Also love the opening of Azemour….I just wish it had better persistence and sillage. The new Corsica sounds fantastic!
I have never tried anything from either of these lines, but I would really love to …thanks.
like many, i have yet to try either of these lines; the tribute to Corsica sounds divine! definitely looking up more info on PdE, green perfumers are very much my thing. 🙂
I have never tried any of the Pd’E scents but they sound fascinating.
I haven’t tried anything from these lines but I do have Ormonde Jayne Woman sitting in my decant pile waiting to be worn and reviewed though.
I really admire the Pd’E line; Azemour is a favorite and sorry that I missed out on sampling the LE Musc perfume.
Parfum D’Empire is one of my favorite lines and I look forward to trying this one. Ambre Russe is my hg amber; also love Cuir Ottoman, Wazamba, the Bengal one – all unique. Thanks for the reviews and draw!
I’m absolutely crazy about Cuir d’Ottoman, luscious and sophisticated. That’s the only one I’ve tried so far, I’m really hoping they will restart their sample set!
Well after THAT amazing review, I’ll have to throw my hat in the ring, too. I’ve never had the privilege of trying any of OJ and always thought I would love Tolu..but this also sounds right up my “smoky, mysterious,Oriental alley.” But alas, I’ll never be to the point where that much $$ is ok to spend on a perfume…*sigh*..oh, well, so many other things in life to worry about, right? lol…it does sound lovely though!
This sounds exciting! I’ve tried a few Pafums d’Empire- my favoirte is Ambre Russe.
Parfums d’Empire are incredible, and I hope they re-release their sample set when the website re-opens as it’s so enjoyable and was such a good deal. I fell in love with Ambre Russe, it’s so over the top and boozy and overdressed. Also loved Iskander, Wazamba and the drydown of Azemour des Orangers. Cuir d’Ottoman is the harshest, butchest, hardest leather perfume I’ve smelt but I love them for making it! In contrast, I found the florals of the line played far too nice. Fougere Bengal is heaven but too masculine for me to pull off. Overall: awesome line.
I wish Musc Tonkin and Corsica Furiosa had been in there too!
Smoking green dragon–yes, I want to try that! I don’t think I have tried any PdE’s but I am sure they are on my list.
Haven’t tried PdE, but some of them are on my list of perfumes to try — and Corsica Furiosa is one of them. I’m very interested in it and your review tempts me even more.
As for Ormonde Jayne it’s a similar story: haven’t tried any yet, but they’re on the list.
I’ve never tried any PdE perfumes, I was going to purchase the sample set but the day before they shutted down the website…shame on me! I’ll never procrastinate any perfume purchase any more.
Thank you for the draw!
I’ve never smelled any of the PdE perfumes–apparently they stopped selling their sample sets juuust before I tried to order one. I’m a day late and a dollar short, as usual.
Ormonde Jayne scents, I have to say, leave me rather cold. It’s not that they aren’t good. They are, and I do appreciate the craft and enthusiasm that goes into their making. They’re just not for me. On the other hand, I’m probably the original PdE fangirl. I’ve loved the line ever since I stumbled across Eau de Gloire years ago. Still one of my favorite scents from the line! Sadly, the only perfumery in the country to offer PdE perfumes has kicked the line out of the shop……….
I love several of the PdE line – Cuir Ottoman, Ambre Russe, Osmanthus Interdite, and Equestrius. Still haven’t tried Azemour, but have a feeling I’d like that as well. And kicking myself for missing their Musc Tonkin.
I like Azemour best in the line so far. This new one has been getting a lot of positive buzz and I’m excited about trying it.
Get your Wazamba on with Parfum d’Empire! It’s so different (not that I would be interested in the different, lol). Iskander will be my next FB. Ormond Jayne Ta’if is one sexy and elegant scent. Oh, Osmanthus, if you only lived in my perfume closet, sigh.
I have the Parfum d’Empire sample set and love Azemour (FB!). I wish the perfumes were available in a coffret of 10-15mLs each — that I would purchase!
Would love to try either of these as I haven ‘t been able to try either line yet. I think of the two I’d really enjoy the Ormonde Jayne due to the notes. However this scent would be sadly out of reach price wise, even if it was available in the US . Thanks for the review!
my husband is leaving for a business trip to London in two weeks, and I had the fleeting thought that I might ask for an early Christmas present. Alas, the Black Gold is £420, $705 before taxes. I’m not sure how long I need to be married before I ask for that! a sample would be heaven.
haven’t tried the line, but sounds interesting. thanks for the daw
OJ makes the fragrance I would wear if I could only wear one – Tolu. The Black Gold sounds amazing and I must sniff! The only PdE I really know is the Ambre Russe, and I love it. (Of course, you have to do pretty awful things to amber for me to NOT like it!)
I haven’t tried anything from either of these companies yet, but I’d love to!
Ormonde Jayne has a website and they ship. I have Orris Noir and love it. But my daughter did pick it up while she was in London.
I really need to explore this line. This sounds interesting but a “smoking green monster” is not what I am usually after! I would like to try it though.
Thanks!