More Fun Samples from the Grab Bag

Let’s do another something old, something new – retrieved from Carolyn’s constantly renewable supply of samples from Luckyscent, which is a daily pleasure for both of us.

First, Carthusia Mediterraneo. This is still made? I’m delighted. Trying the line was way early in my fragrance obsession and I remember really liking this one and thinking the other ones were fine. From the Carthusia website: “The freshness of the lemon leaf is accompanied by the sparkling notes of green tea, white musk and cardamom for a dynamic and sunny fragrance that recalls the magic of Capri.” Mediterraneo is like all the best bits of a summer cologne, only it is stronger and lasts longer, at least on me. Perfect for this time of year. I get the whole enchilada fruit basket sunny garden all at once and it’s so cheerful and unchallenging. I thought I had a bottle but apparently not. Do you remember this one?

Also, do you ever have that moment where you remember a smell of a particular scent from the past, and it drives you nuts until you can remember what it is, exactly? I had that off and on all day yesterday, and then it popped into my head at around midnight: Dior’s Escale a Portofino. Remember that one? Launched in 2008, nose is François Demachy, notes are bergamot, lemon, petitgrain, orange blossom, juniper berries, almond, cypress, cedar, musk, galbanum, caraway. What’s sticking in my mind is the unusual, nut-butter aspect of it. It looks like it’s still (somewhat) available. Must investigate further. I wonder if it’ll smell like what I recall? Pretty sure the Carthusia sniffage brought on that scent memory.

Third, something new to me —   Relique D’Amour from Oriza Legrand, a French brand that’s been around since the 18th century according to their website, and they have a lot of fragrances. From their website: “The smell of an old chapel of Cistercian abbey. Cold stone walls covered with damp moss. Waxed wood of altar and old pews ornate with carvings. Linseed oil in lamps. Incense and myrrh discernible in the air. But how fresh and spicy the smell of white royal lilies on this background! Subtle floral scent with green accents of leaves and powdery touches of yellow pollen. The beam of light breaks through the stained glass …” Notes: foliage, terebinth (turpentine resin – I learned a thing!), pepper, white lily, linseed oil, frankincense, myrrh, elemi, musk, oakmoss, waxen wood. Whoa, now this is interesting. It really is one of those scents of a place – you are there inside a cold stone edifice, a bit of damp, that ancient-earth smell, incense, etc. And the lilies really do show up. It’s got that crazy-specific virtual-reality quality, like CB I Hate Perfume can do for me. Do I want to smell like this as I go about my daily business? I am … not sure. But I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to visit for a moment in time. Have you tried anything else from them? I’d love to visit their Paris shop; it’s a whole apothecary and they have some divine-looking soaps as well as other things.

images via Pexels