Reviews by Tubereuse

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    Tubereuse
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    Showing 1 to 19 of 19.
    rating

    Esprit de Fleurs by Frapin

    The opening of this scent is decent, but I don't quickly pick up any citrus notes. It didn't blow me away. My first impression of the middle notes was that this scent was "verrry floral." It is not sharp or astringent (again, I didn't pick up on much citrus).

    It is like being in a floral shop where all the petal and leaf smells mix together. I don't hate it, and it didn't give me a headache. It's a very under-the-radar office appropriate scent. Nothing too daring. I might go as far as to say I got bored. Low sillage, below average lasting power.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Fruits of the Musk by Montale

    I was surprised at the opening. It was not at all what I expected. It became sharp, and had a particular botanical astringency. This scent did not strike me as sophisticated. Instead, it is very blunt and long-lasting with strong sillage. The base notes were bearable, but ultimately not something I want to smell like in any situation.

    I think some of the sharpness throughout this fragrance could be because of the musk, which I learned is almost always synthetic. So I assume that it also why I was simply left confused by this fragrance.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    8 88 by Comme des Garçons

    Another big let down for me from CDG. I was so curious what this metal smell could be like. I now wonder if it is because of my sensitivity to synthetics. CDG is known for their artificial scents. Or whatever.

    I just didn't like this.

    I smelled the saffron very clearly, and then it was all amber. Everything else was sort of muddled in the background. It wasn't horrible, but something is missing. I don't even want to keep the sample.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Iris Taïzo 14 by Parfumerie Generale

    I've lost this sample, but I remember it clearly. I did not think that I would like iris, but I had to give it a try. I was fairly new to most of the other notes as well.

    Upon applying, the Iris really blasted out at me. I was patient and the middle notes were rewarding. Very yummy without being too gourmand&sweet. This fragrance lasted a good long time.

    Normally, I either like a scent or I don't and that's it. With this one, it took about 2-3 wears before I started to have the craving. I would crave to wear Iris Taizo (now Iris Oriental) and smell it just like I do with my other favorite scents. It had to grow on me.

    If you like this but want something smokier, you should try Palisander by CDG and especially try Coze by Parfumerie Generale.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Escentric 01 by Escentric Molecules

    People are talking about all kinds of detectable sourness and electricity in the notes. I'll tell you what I smell... Nothing. It's all chemicals and synthetic. I don't know why, but my nose just isn't cooperating.

    And I was so excited about the Iso E Super, too! Maybe it was just too soon for this beginner to attempt to sniff something that has one note at 65% concentration.

    Maybe I will take a tip from another reviewer and test it on paper. Good idea.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Gardenia Royal by Il Profumo

    The peachy opening is unbelievably delicious. But it all comes down to the base notes and whether I want to smell like that all day. The (middle) floral notes are soft with no astringency. It's beautiful, very "pretty" and a little precious.

    I am looking for something edgier and more exciting. If there was something unexpected with the peach (maybe a pepper, or a sensuous resiny wood) I would love this and it would be in my top tier. I might try to layer it some day when bored. Otherwise, this fragrance is very predictable, if gorgeous. So very Gorgeous.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Element-of-Surprise by Beth Terry Creative Universe

    This is an oddball in my collection of samples. I don't hate it, but I'm not going to keep it either. All the notes blend together at once on my skin. There is no story, at least not when I wear it. I guess that is understandable with the small amount of notes.

    It struck me as a mature scent. In one word, this fragrance is elegant. I don't find it suitable for me in my 20s when I want to be daring, irreverent, and unexpected. Maybe someday in the future I will come back to it. Low sillage, decent lasting power for such a light scent.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Comme des Garçons 3 by Comme des Garçons

    When I first tried this, I remember thinking that it smelled like rubbing alcohol. I was not impressed. I was really let down by the "imaginary flower" hype. This fragrance taught me not to read too many descriptions of a scent outside of its notes.

    I know CDG is known for its synthetics-- were many of these notes artificial, then? I am not keeping this sample. If you are sensitive to synthetic smells, beware of this one.

    I wonder why I cannot smell anything!!

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Comme des Garçons 2 by Comme des Garçons

    At first I smelled something mysterious and sophisticated. I know I like the Sumi ink note mixed with the incense. These notes were almost made the fragrance experience worth it. Unfortunately, I was let down by the middle notes. I found them very "mature" for me. This fragrance is one of a few which taught me that I don't like amber.

    Then we get to these aldehyde and absolute notes... Oh, it was downright grating on my senses. I cannot stand to smell like this. I wish I could find Sumi ink in something else. In the meantime I am not keeping this sample.

    28th November, 2009.

    rating

    Sunset Flowers by Montale

    The journey of Sunset Flowers was a journey through a hospital awash in cleaning fluid.This was not delicate for me. It was harsh, and it taught me just how much I don't like violet.
    It transports me to a world where I tumbled down a hillside covered in violet at sunset... The scent lasted so long, like the night I would have to spend in that floral valley. Maybe I bumped my head, because it now hurts.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    Tuberuse Couture 17 by Parfumerie Generale

    This is the third of my (so far) only four choices for full-size bottles.
    As chengfun said, Tubereuse Couture is sophisticated and elegant. A good choice for me when I want to smell professional and inoffensive towards people I don't know well.
    I am very familiar with fresh calamansi (or kalamanzi) but I don't seem to smell it on its own in this fragrance. I smell as if I am just holding a sweet fresh-picked bouquet.
    I wear it with soft hair and soft classic clothes.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    Bois d'Ombrie by Eau d'Italie

    The first boozey notes I found slightly repulsive. I see at least one other person smelled the same weird vinegar note that I did. Like a ginseng-filled tchotchke shop where they're boiling vinegar in the back to clean the air...
    With a smaller application I smell the leather and tobacco. Very strong but smooth tobacco scent, makes it worth the time to see through to the drydown. It's the smell of a well-educated bachelor study. Maybe the smell of Henry Higgins himself?
    I liked it in the end, but not for myself. Would make a better male scent to me.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    Perfect Nectar by Creative Scentualization

    Perfect Nectar, upon trying it a good number of times, is now on my "to buy" list. I was absolutely intrigued upon first dab. It makes me recall waking up in my grandma's house in the Philippine islands, smelling the fresh fruit cut for breakfast, and the beautiful foliage growing outside. It's already a humid morning and the roosters are calling, everything is perfect.

    I haven't yet found the exact occasion for which I would wear this particular fragrance but I can imagine wearing it to school or such casual girly days as that. It would go well with a floaty summer dress.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    parfums*PARFUMS Series 6 Synthetic: Soda by Comme des Garçons

    Really smelled like soda. And that's it. I wasn't intrigued, but I was certainly pleased with the novelty. It lasts a good amount of time on my skin. Won't be purchasing a full size. I want to keep the sample... but when am I ever going to want to smell like soda? I'll be experimenting with layering it, I guess.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    parfums*PARFUMS Series 5 Sherbet: Peppermint by Comme des Garçons

    I smell something very watery, but it is a true mint smell. As if you ripped up some fresh mint into a bowl of cold filtered water. Not a candy mint by far. I didn't find it sharp in the least, but it's also not very strong on me. It reminds me of the smell of someone who just walked in from the snow.
    While I appreciated this as a novelty, I wouldn't buy it full-size. I am probably going to keep my sample though. It lasts barely 15 minutes on my skin, even when prepped with oil. Unfortunate, but interesting to try.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    parfums*PARFUMS Series 2 Red: Sequoia by Comme des Garçons

    Now this was a head-scratcher. I sniffed several times, and I smelled the notes in an exact sharp-smooth pattern. Interesting roller-coaster ride, but I don't like it. It just got worse as it dried down through a type of mothball astringency. Oh well. I liked Palisander much better.
    Even though my initial reaction was neutral, I probably won't be keeping the sample, even for reference.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    parfums*PARFUMS Series 2 Red: Palisander by Comme des Garçons

    The only fragrance I would buy as of yet with a hint of heaviness. One of the four, so far, that I would ever buy a full size of.
    Smelling this scent, I imagine myself lounging on a bunch of pillows in a warm open-air room. Maybe I'm smoking a hookah, I can smell a touch of smoke in the notes. And I made it all happen myself.
    I find Palisander so empowering, relaxed, and sexy. Smooth, despite the pepper note. I can definitely smell the androgyny but it's so wearable for a woman.
    I would wear this out for a night of partying or at a concert. I wear strong, tough clothes with it.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    parfums*PARFUMS Series 2 Red: Harissa by Comme des Garçons

    This perfume embraced me in a slightly sweaty and humid way. Surprising and spicy at first; not bad. When applied in smaller amounts I found it to be sweeter. The problem is that it always dried down to a menthol smell. Puzzling. I don't want it.

    18th November, 2008.

    rating

    parfums*PARFUMS Series 1 Leaves: Calamus by Comme des Garçons

    The top notes are definitely green. I find that all the notes are an exceptionally accurate rendition. I smell the delicacy as others have mentioned and the base notes transport me to a time and place I cannot completely remember. I think about being a child, picking sweet-smelling winter berries growing on evergreen bushes in the snow.
    This is one of my (so far) four fragrances that I would buy a full-size of. I like the quirky top notes and the originality of the dry down suits me. I would wear this with an eccentric whimsical type of outfit.

    18th November, 2008.

    Showing 1 to 19 of 19.

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