Anticipating their soon to be appearing queries, LadyLonestar thoughtfully started a thread in advance to collect and consolidate fragrant ideas for the gentlemen for Valentine's Day gift suggestions for their women sweethearts.
But should we not start a thread for frargrant gift ideas "For Him?" -- A thread that could cover two aspects:
1)Our fragrant suggestions for gifts to give our male sweethearts. (In this we are ignoring "True Blue Friends" and those of us with Lady sweethearts though...)
2)Suggestions for how to utilize fragrance to enhance and set the stage with style for a true romantic evening where sensual detail has been attended to joyfully, not manipulatively of course.
Here is a start on #2 and I can't wait to hear everyone else's ideas.
* Should we try out a new love potion-perfume of our own to surprise and arouse with a new scent?
Check out the thread started by LadyLonestar aimed at the ggents:
http://www.basenotes.net/community/Y...num=1138217446
* Start simple: scent your atmosphere in a variety of ways from gently (very gently) scenting your bed linens to burning Diptyque's beautiful Rose and blackcurrant fragranced Baies Noir candle.
* Or perhaps be inspired to a whole scent theme by Agraria's classic Bitter Orange candle or diffuser. Bitter Orange smells like good orange marmalade and roses. So after making a beautiful arrangement of roses for the bedroom, spending a glorious night, next morning offer a light breakfast in bed (Gonna have to do this on the weekend before since Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday) -- a continental breakfast of fresh, hot croissants baked in your own oven (order 1 week in advance from William Sonoma http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/p...&cmsrc=sch) -- can anything beat the fragrance of pastry baking? In deference to the theme, please serve with an excellent seville (bitter orange) marmalade (geat one from Tienda http://www.tienda.com/food/pop/fp-04.html) Then, I am sure you can think of additional Valentine's Day uses for the extra marmalade
.
* Not a morning person? Float a few pink or red rose petals and a teensy drop of rose water in a Kir Royal made with Champagne of course and either Framboise de Bourgogne or the classic Cassis, (I have other rose petal recipes, especially a French one for poached peaches in a light rose petal syrup.) LIghtly scatter the extra rose petals on the pillows and the sheets of course (in which case you have scented your linens with the extra rose water too, perhaps?)
* Enhance a fireside mood & the fragrance of your inviting fire by adding small pieces of juniper, balsam, cedar or pinon (my favorite) incense cones from Incienso de Santa Fe to the fire. http://www.aromasunlimited.com/incienso.htm
* it seems like basenote's Ayala has a luxurious and fine desert moment in mind when she makes a few non-fragrance suggestions in LadyL's men's thread above that would be good for us to hear , too. She asks you to consider artisanal chocolates and thrillinglly chilled ice wine from Canada.
*Ayala then rather comprehensively lists her love potion picks for us ladies to wear -- lots of fabulous Rose. Thank you, Ayala.
http://www.basenotes.net/community/Y...num=1138217446
* For more in the Rose personal fragrance vein, go to Bois de Jasmin's January 26th entry http://boisdejasmin.typepad.com
To follow in Ladylonestar's vein inspired by Allure -- fragrances which explore the traditional scents of Valentine's Day (Cocolate, roses or flowers, candy) yet are not excessively gourmand, here are three of my choices for us women and then a few for men below that:
Ormonde Jayne Ta'if Top notes Pink Pepper, Saffron, Dates; middle Notes Rose Oil, Freesia, Orange Flower, Jasmine; base notes Broom, Amber.
http://www.ormondejayne.com/shop_by_...women.php.>
Molinard 1849 Nirmala (EDP) Top notes of mango, passion fruit, grapefruit and mandarine.; middle notes of jasmine, rose, fleur-des-isles; base notes of tonka bean, sandalwood, rare orchid vanilla and cedarwood.
http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_d=1764
Keiko Mecheri Gourmandises Praline Powdery notes, rose petal, jam notes, saffron , ambrette
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/detai...0&section=[/b]>
* The fragraces that deliver flowers and chocolate for the guys:
Gendarme 7 Sinful Scents: Excess How apt. Top notes
Spice pepper, Rum, Dark chocolate; middle notes Jasmine, Patchouli , Vanilla; base notes Sheer Musk, Sandalwood.
Hanae Mori H.M Top notes,Lemon, Lavender, Blackcurrant, Green notes; middle notes, Iris, Jasmine, Muguet, Bulgarian Rose; base notes
Moss, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Cedarwood, Chocolate, Amber
Animale Parfums Animale Animale for Men Top notes, Bergamot; middle notes, Chocolate, Moss; base Notes
Vanilla, Sandalwood
Sensual scents that seem popular with our ladies as per the various threads on this topic of *scents that drive us wild*:
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Top notes Oregano, Bay leaf, Coriander; middle notes myrtle, Angelica Root; base notes Sandalwood, Siam Benzoin, Patchouli.
Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur Top notes Lavender, Bergamot; middle notes Clove, Cinnamon; base notes Gaiac wood, Cedar, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Tonka
Boucheron Jaïpur Homme Top notebergamot, Lemon, Cardamom, Lime; middle note Carnation, Cinnamom, Rose, Jasmine; base note : Cedar, Patchouli, Tonka, Benzoin. There is also a Jaipur Homme Fresh.
Caron Le 3me Homme (Third Man) Top notes Lavender, Rosemary, Anise, Bergamot ; middle notes Geranium, Jasmin, Rose, Fern, Carnation; base notes Amber, Musk, Moss, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Tonka, Vanilla
Caron Pour Un Homme Top Notes Lavender, Rosemary, Bergamot, Lemon; middle notes Clary Sage, Rose, Rosewood, Cedarwood; base notes Vanilla, Tonka, Musk, Moss
[There is also a more modern re-interpretation called Impact Pour Un Homme by Caron which has recieved favorable reviews among basenote members but I cannot quickly find the fragrance notes.]
Creed Tabarome (Vintage or Millisimes?) The original was one of Winston Churchil's fave's. Notes for the current version are top notes Bergamot, Green Tea; middle notes Tobacco Leaves, Jasmin, Ginger; base notes musk, vetiver.
Yves Saint Laurent M7 Top notes Bergamot, Mandarin, Rosemary, middle notes Vetiver, Agarwood ; base notes Amber, Musk, Mandrake root.
Yves Saint Laurent Opium Pour Homme Top notes Star Aniseed, Blackcurrant; middel notes, Chinese Galanga, Szechwan Pepper; base notes Fresh Bourbon Vanilla, Tolu Balm, Atlas Cedar.
Guerlain Habit RougeTop notes Bergamot, Lemon, Rosewood, Basil, Pimento; middle notes Sandalwood, Carnation, Patchouli, Cedar, Rose, Cinnamon; base notes Vanilla, Amber, Moss, Leather, Benzoin, Labdanum, Olibanum
Guerlain Vetiver The classic. Top notes Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Coriander; middle notes Vetiver, Cedar; base notes Tobacco, Nutmeg, Pepper, Tonka bean, Capiscum
Hermesessence Vetiver Tonka The nose says this is meant to suggest wool (like a swetaer on a cool country morning walk) Notes of vetiver, neroli, bergamot, grilled hazelnut, dry fruit, nutty grains and tonka bean.
Chanel Anteus Top notes Clary Sage, Myrtle; middle notes Patchouli, Sandalwood; base notes Labdanum, Beeswax Absolute
Chanel Egoiste Top notes Sicilian Tangerine, Brazilian Rosewood; middlde notes Coriander, Damask Rose; base notes Sandalwood, Vanilla, Ambrette seed.
and many more but those are my edits of the ones that kept popping up (sorry, but I cannot bring myself to include Aramis which showed up a number of times but I have bad associations.)
Frangrant products for men other than EDT, EDP, etc.
The Art of Shaving has product in three understated and high quality scents -- lemon, lavendar and a particulalry appealing sandalwood, all layerable with other related fragrances -- as well as an unscented, hypo-allergenic version. Choose a single product like their wonderful after shave balm & moisturizer or perhaps select the starter kit which contains all "four steps to the perfect shave" -- shave oil to make stubble stand up, shave cream, a beautiful badger shaving brush to apply the cream and a moisturizer to calm and protect skin afterward. They also sell handsome razors.
http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos/home.php
http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos/starter-kit.php
L'Artisan Boule d'Ambre (Terracotta Amber Ball) These distinctive, dark-brown, andsome objects d'art are home fragrance at its most beautiful. They look like elegant Tahitian wooden artifacts, but are realy incised & pierced hollow terracotta balls filled with delicous-smelling, sweet amber crystals. Although they look like a gentleman's library sort of thing, I have given them to men and women over the years for various ocassions and they are always a hit. In fact, most all order more to start a collection. Maitre Parfumeur et Grantier also make a similar, no less handsome product, though they are of different shapes.
http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_id=449
http://www.barneys.com/index_flash.html
http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_id=449
Pilgrim's Handiworks of the Himilayas has fragrant, carved sandalwod boxes in three sizes for dresser, desk or bedside.
http://www.pilgrimshandicrafts.com/s...lwoodboxes.htm
I wish I could find a lead on sandalwood or sandalwood-lined boxes that were uncarved. I got an elegant, long sterling silver box deliciously lined in fragrant sandalwood that my finacee adores. If anyone knows of a source for this sort of thing, I would apreciate hearing of it.
So what are other folk's ideas for fragrance or frgrant body, bath or home product for him and -- more fun for me -- ideas on what fragrant steps we creative basenote women can take?
But should we not start a thread for frargrant gift ideas "For Him?" -- A thread that could cover two aspects:
1)Our fragrant suggestions for gifts to give our male sweethearts. (In this we are ignoring "True Blue Friends" and those of us with Lady sweethearts though...)
2)Suggestions for how to utilize fragrance to enhance and set the stage with style for a true romantic evening where sensual detail has been attended to joyfully, not manipulatively of course.
Here is a start on #2 and I can't wait to hear everyone else's ideas.
* Should we try out a new love potion-perfume of our own to surprise and arouse with a new scent?
Check out the thread started by LadyLonestar aimed at the ggents:
http://www.basenotes.net/community/Y...num=1138217446
* Start simple: scent your atmosphere in a variety of ways from gently (very gently) scenting your bed linens to burning Diptyque's beautiful Rose and blackcurrant fragranced Baies Noir candle.
* Or perhaps be inspired to a whole scent theme by Agraria's classic Bitter Orange candle or diffuser. Bitter Orange smells like good orange marmalade and roses. So after making a beautiful arrangement of roses for the bedroom, spending a glorious night, next morning offer a light breakfast in bed (Gonna have to do this on the weekend before since Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday) -- a continental breakfast of fresh, hot croissants baked in your own oven (order 1 week in advance from William Sonoma http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/p...&cmsrc=sch) -- can anything beat the fragrance of pastry baking? In deference to the theme, please serve with an excellent seville (bitter orange) marmalade (geat one from Tienda http://www.tienda.com/food/pop/fp-04.html) Then, I am sure you can think of additional Valentine's Day uses for the extra marmalade
.* Not a morning person? Float a few pink or red rose petals and a teensy drop of rose water in a Kir Royal made with Champagne of course and either Framboise de Bourgogne or the classic Cassis, (I have other rose petal recipes, especially a French one for poached peaches in a light rose petal syrup.) LIghtly scatter the extra rose petals on the pillows and the sheets of course (in which case you have scented your linens with the extra rose water too, perhaps?)
* Enhance a fireside mood & the fragrance of your inviting fire by adding small pieces of juniper, balsam, cedar or pinon (my favorite) incense cones from Incienso de Santa Fe to the fire. http://www.aromasunlimited.com/incienso.htm
* it seems like basenote's Ayala has a luxurious and fine desert moment in mind when she makes a few non-fragrance suggestions in LadyL's men's thread above that would be good for us to hear , too. She asks you to consider artisanal chocolates and thrillinglly chilled ice wine from Canada.
*Ayala then rather comprehensively lists her love potion picks for us ladies to wear -- lots of fabulous Rose. Thank you, Ayala.
http://www.basenotes.net/community/Y...num=1138217446
* For more in the Rose personal fragrance vein, go to Bois de Jasmin's January 26th entry http://boisdejasmin.typepad.com
To follow in Ladylonestar's vein inspired by Allure -- fragrances which explore the traditional scents of Valentine's Day (Cocolate, roses or flowers, candy) yet are not excessively gourmand, here are three of my choices for us women and then a few for men below that:
Ormonde Jayne Ta'if Top notes Pink Pepper, Saffron, Dates; middle Notes Rose Oil, Freesia, Orange Flower, Jasmine; base notes Broom, Amber.
http://www.ormondejayne.com/shop_by_...women.php.>
Molinard 1849 Nirmala (EDP) Top notes of mango, passion fruit, grapefruit and mandarine.; middle notes of jasmine, rose, fleur-des-isles; base notes of tonka bean, sandalwood, rare orchid vanilla and cedarwood.
http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_d=1764
Keiko Mecheri Gourmandises Praline Powdery notes, rose petal, jam notes, saffron , ambrette
http://www.luckyscent.com/shop/detai...0&section=[/b]>
* The fragraces that deliver flowers and chocolate for the guys:
Gendarme 7 Sinful Scents: Excess How apt. Top notes
Spice pepper, Rum, Dark chocolate; middle notes Jasmine, Patchouli , Vanilla; base notes Sheer Musk, Sandalwood.
Hanae Mori H.M Top notes,Lemon, Lavender, Blackcurrant, Green notes; middle notes, Iris, Jasmine, Muguet, Bulgarian Rose; base notes
Moss, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Cedarwood, Chocolate, Amber
Animale Parfums Animale Animale for Men Top notes, Bergamot; middle notes, Chocolate, Moss; base Notes
Vanilla, Sandalwood
Sensual scents that seem popular with our ladies as per the various threads on this topic of *scents that drive us wild*:
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Top notes Oregano, Bay leaf, Coriander; middle notes myrtle, Angelica Root; base notes Sandalwood, Siam Benzoin, Patchouli.
Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur Top notes Lavender, Bergamot; middle notes Clove, Cinnamon; base notes Gaiac wood, Cedar, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Tonka
Boucheron Jaïpur Homme Top notebergamot, Lemon, Cardamom, Lime; middle note Carnation, Cinnamom, Rose, Jasmine; base note : Cedar, Patchouli, Tonka, Benzoin. There is also a Jaipur Homme Fresh.
Caron Le 3me Homme (Third Man) Top notes Lavender, Rosemary, Anise, Bergamot ; middle notes Geranium, Jasmin, Rose, Fern, Carnation; base notes Amber, Musk, Moss, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Tonka, Vanilla
Caron Pour Un Homme Top Notes Lavender, Rosemary, Bergamot, Lemon; middle notes Clary Sage, Rose, Rosewood, Cedarwood; base notes Vanilla, Tonka, Musk, Moss
[There is also a more modern re-interpretation called Impact Pour Un Homme by Caron which has recieved favorable reviews among basenote members but I cannot quickly find the fragrance notes.]
Creed Tabarome (Vintage or Millisimes?) The original was one of Winston Churchil's fave's. Notes for the current version are top notes Bergamot, Green Tea; middle notes Tobacco Leaves, Jasmin, Ginger; base notes musk, vetiver.
Yves Saint Laurent M7 Top notes Bergamot, Mandarin, Rosemary, middle notes Vetiver, Agarwood ; base notes Amber, Musk, Mandrake root.
Yves Saint Laurent Opium Pour Homme Top notes Star Aniseed, Blackcurrant; middel notes, Chinese Galanga, Szechwan Pepper; base notes Fresh Bourbon Vanilla, Tolu Balm, Atlas Cedar.
Guerlain Habit RougeTop notes Bergamot, Lemon, Rosewood, Basil, Pimento; middle notes Sandalwood, Carnation, Patchouli, Cedar, Rose, Cinnamon; base notes Vanilla, Amber, Moss, Leather, Benzoin, Labdanum, Olibanum
Guerlain Vetiver The classic. Top notes Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Coriander; middle notes Vetiver, Cedar; base notes Tobacco, Nutmeg, Pepper, Tonka bean, Capiscum
Hermesessence Vetiver Tonka The nose says this is meant to suggest wool (like a swetaer on a cool country morning walk) Notes of vetiver, neroli, bergamot, grilled hazelnut, dry fruit, nutty grains and tonka bean.
Chanel Anteus Top notes Clary Sage, Myrtle; middle notes Patchouli, Sandalwood; base notes Labdanum, Beeswax Absolute
Chanel Egoiste Top notes Sicilian Tangerine, Brazilian Rosewood; middlde notes Coriander, Damask Rose; base notes Sandalwood, Vanilla, Ambrette seed.
and many more but those are my edits of the ones that kept popping up (sorry, but I cannot bring myself to include Aramis which showed up a number of times but I have bad associations.)
Frangrant products for men other than EDT, EDP, etc.
The Art of Shaving has product in three understated and high quality scents -- lemon, lavendar and a particulalry appealing sandalwood, all layerable with other related fragrances -- as well as an unscented, hypo-allergenic version. Choose a single product like their wonderful after shave balm & moisturizer or perhaps select the starter kit which contains all "four steps to the perfect shave" -- shave oil to make stubble stand up, shave cream, a beautiful badger shaving brush to apply the cream and a moisturizer to calm and protect skin afterward. They also sell handsome razors.
http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos/home.php
http://www.theartofshaving.com/taos/starter-kit.php
L'Artisan Boule d'Ambre (Terracotta Amber Ball) These distinctive, dark-brown, andsome objects d'art are home fragrance at its most beautiful. They look like elegant Tahitian wooden artifacts, but are realy incised & pierced hollow terracotta balls filled with delicous-smelling, sweet amber crystals. Although they look like a gentleman's library sort of thing, I have given them to men and women over the years for various ocassions and they are always a hit. In fact, most all order more to start a collection. Maitre Parfumeur et Grantier also make a similar, no less handsome product, though they are of different shapes.
http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_id=449
http://www.barneys.com/index_flash.html
http://www.aedes.com/product.php?product_id=449
Pilgrim's Handiworks of the Himilayas has fragrant, carved sandalwod boxes in three sizes for dresser, desk or bedside.
http://www.pilgrimshandicrafts.com/s...lwoodboxes.htm
I wish I could find a lead on sandalwood or sandalwood-lined boxes that were uncarved. I got an elegant, long sterling silver box deliciously lined in fragrant sandalwood that my finacee adores. If anyone knows of a source for this sort of thing, I would apreciate hearing of it.
So what are other folk's ideas for fragrance or frgrant body, bath or home product for him and -- more fun for me -- ideas on what fragrant steps we creative basenote women can take?
