Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack March 2017: Green

I have to say straight up front - I think this has been my favourite month ever! (I actually love all the scents included this month). "In the first month of Spring we explore the phenomenon green (cut grass and leaves) in perfume and how perfumers go about instilling it in a formula".

Inside the pack this month:

Zoologist Hummingbird EdP (60ml - £125, 1ml - £3)  which is designed to make you "think of a tropical forest and it's lush green vegetation". It has a high level of coumarin which smells of warm hay with green smelling florals. With top notes of apple, cherry, citrus, lilac, muget, plum, rose and violet leaf. A heart of honey, honeysuckle, mimosa, peony, tulip and ylang ylang with a base of amber, coumarin, cream, moss, musks, sandalwood and white woods. 

Huitième Art Aube Pashmina EdP (50ml - £88, 1ml - £2) which is "a straightforward green with a note of tomato leaves propped up by a geranium-basil mix". With notes of basil, currant leaves, geranium, rosemary, satinwood and tomato leaves. This is really fresh with a fruity edge.

.vero.profumo. Mito EdP (50ml - £138, 1ml - £5) which is the "perfect perfume to learn how galbanum smells". "French perfumers call this resin "runner bean in a shoe" - green beans and leather.  Bloom Perfumery say to compare this with Aube Pashmina (synthetic green - tomato leaf) "compared to a carefully built up green created from combining natural materials with a green nuance". With top notes of green leaves a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose and a base of galbanum and hyacinth.

PG16.1 Bois Naufragé EdP (50ml - £81.50, 1ml - £2) which is new in (a reintroduction) which is formulated with a note of mock fig (carob) which is sweet and leafy. With a top note of fig of Egypt (carob tree), a heart of sea salt and a base of vetiver fraction and ambergris.

Baruti Melkmeisje Extrait de Parfum (30ml - £98, 1ml - £5) which is built around linden absolute (a rare and expensive material). A green floral with powder and honey notes. With notes of honey, iris butter, lilac, linden, musk, pear, sandalwood, vanilla and vetiver.

The final pick this month is by Bloom Bespoke Lab KisKis EdT (50ml - £69.99, 1ml - £2) which is Bloom's own experiment "the fruity green nuance has been created from combining blackcurrant leaves, cucumber and apple accord". With notes of amber, sage, cucumber, granny smith apples, oakmoss, rose, vanilla, blackcurrant leaves, jasmine and raindrops.

Have you tried any of these perfumes? As I said, this month goes down as one of my favourites over the two years of my subscription (I could easily have them all full size - if only!) You also get a code for 10% off any of the bottles this month.

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: September 2016

My Bloom Perfumery September sample pack arrived yesterday and this month it's #LucaTurinApproved - Perfume writer and co-author of the perfume lover's bible "Perfumes: The A-Z Guide" of which I have an early edition and which has given me hours and hours of reading pleasure.

Onto the perfumes this month which have all recently featured on Luca's blog:

Baruti Berlin in Winter (Indigo RMX) Extrait de Parfum (30ml - £80, 1ml - £5) which has notes of amber, cassis, coffee, frankincense, iris, lavender, leather, mastic, myrrh, plum, rose and whisky. I initially didn't like this scent but it's definitely growing on me. 

AEON 001 Extrait de Parfum (65ml - £200, 1.2ml - £10) which was the one which initially jumped out at me. With notes of tobacco and vetiver. Luca says "the best vetiver in a long time". It is blended with a distinct note of honey and white flowers with a touch of smoke and resin. Love!

Angela Ciampagna Liquo EdP (50ml - £95, 1.6ml - £5) which is really unusual and has a distinct liquorice aroma making it quite mouthwatering. With top notes of lavandin, violet and lemon with a heart of anise, licorice, straw and coumarin with a base of incense, vetiver and tonka beans. 

.vero.profumo. Mito EdP (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) with top notes of green leaves, a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose with a base of galbanum and hyacinth. It opens with a green freshness developing into a creamy heady floral with a woody base. Like this one a lot.

Nishane Sultan Vetiver Extrait de Parfum (50ml - £120, 1ml - £5) which is a mix of vetivers from all over the world - Java, Brazil, Haiti and Bourbon) and is heady and exotic. It has top notes of absinthe, Java vetiver, bergamot and Peruvian pepper a heart of Bourbon vetiver, neroli, Haiti vetiver and tonka beans with a base of amber, Brazil vetiver and leather. Huge fan of this perfume house, my favourite being Boszporusz.

Just landed is Brocard Queen of Spades Modern EdP 1.5ml (which I can't actually find online yet!) It has top notes of citruses and mango, a heart of jasmine, orange blossom and white rose and a base of patchouli, vanilla, marshmallow and white musk and is very fruity and sweetly edible.

What are your thoughts on this month's selection?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: July 2016: Continental Roses

My July Bloom Perfumery perfume sample pack has just arrived and this month the theme is Continental Roses. I love rose scents so I'm really looking forward to trying them out. 

"Throughout the ages the humble rose has remained one of the most precious and multifaceted ingredients in perfumery".

Bloom Perfumery have selected for us "six different variations on the idea of a rose".

I've not really had time to test them out properly yet but on first sniff I'm drawn to Bestseller Parfumerie Generale's PG13 Brulure de Rose EdP (£81.50 - 50ml, 1.6ml - £2) which aims to portray the life cycle of a rose: from tight green bud to a full bloom. With notes of Rosewood, Rose, Amber, Musk, Raspberry and Sandalwood.

Next up, again by Parfumerie Generale is PG26 Isparta EdP (£81.50 - 50ml, 1.6ml - £2) which is also a Bloom Perfumery Bestseller. With Red Fruit, Smoke of Agarwood, Patchouli Leaves, Isparta Roses, Benzoin, Tolu Balm and Amber.

Rozy Voile d'extrait by .vero.profumo. (£156 - 50ml, 1.2ml - £10) is exclusive to Bloom Perfumery. The Rose isn't so noticeable in this formulation but it's there complementing the Blackcurrant, Tuberose, Honey, Cassis, Labdanum and Spice notes. (great to try such an expensive perfume too!)

Baruti's Indigo Extrait de Parfum (£80 - 30ml, 1ml - £5) has notes of Amber, Atlas Cedar, Frankincense, Hyacinth, Rose and Sandalwood. "The perfumer  sought to mimic the rose scent of freshly picked damascena roses by using Greek Roses with a Moroccan Rose absolute".

Just Landed: Parfumerie Generale's PG4.1 Le Musc Et La Peau (I can't actually find it online yet) is a blend of 7 musks with notes of Ylang-Ylang, Tonka Bean, Amber, Cedarwood, Rosemary and Vanilla. You can wear this scent alone of layered with any other fragrance.

Phaedon's Cendres de The EdT (£69 - 100ml, 1.6ml - £2) is exclusive and a best seller which has notes of Camphor, Cardamon, Cedar, Musk, Myrrh, Pepper and Rose. 

What do you think of this month's picks?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: March 2016

My March Bloom Perfumery Sample Pack arrived on Friday and this month to commemorate the first flowers of spring iris is a note used in all the scents.

"the scent of iris is derived from the root of the plant so the sensation of its smell can often be a little misleading when people think of it as a flower".

"Considered powdery and earthy, Iris also smells aqueous, as if it's bursting with a violet like freshness. On it's own it can smell like warm, sunned skin or as a natural musk, but in tandem with other ingredients it's effect is startlingly individual. It can inject a dry streak into a floral perfume or soften an oriental composition".

My absolute favourite this month is Nishane's Boszporousz Extrait de Parfum 1.2ml (50ml - £110, 1ml - £5). It has just landed at Bloom and is Exclusive and is simply gorgeous. It has top notes of cypress, galbanum, sage and seaweed with a heart of gardenia and jasmine and a base of amber, musk, oakmoss and patchouli. A pretty floral with salt, sage and seagrass notes reminiscent of the Bosphorous strait shores.

Next to capture my heart is PG's 21 Felanilla EdP 1.6ml (50ml - £81.50, 1.6ml - £2) which is a best seller at Bloom Perfumery. "This is vanilla for grown-ups" and has top notes of saffron, vanilla with a heart of hay and iris absolute and a base of amber.

The final four are Etat Libre d'Orange Benderelious EdP 1.6ml (50ml - £70) which has notes of champagne, cherry lollipop, grapefruit, iris absolu, iris butter, leather, musk tonka bean, vetiver and violet leaf absolute.

Exclusive to Bloom Perfumery .vero.profumo. Mito EdP 1.2ml (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) with top notes of green leaves, a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose with a base of galbanum and hyacinth

Grossmith's Diamond Jubilee Bouquet EdP 1.4ml (50ml - £195, 1.6ml - £5) which was created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The heart is a powder iris.  It has top notes of lemon, lily of the valley, narcissus and orange with a heart of carnation, iris, jasmine, rose, vetiver and violet with a base of amber, hawthorn, tonka beans and vanilla.

New In The Merchant of Venice's Ottoman Amber EdP 1.6ml (100ml - £120, 1.6ml - £2) which has notes of labdanum, myrrh, oud accord, patchouli and vanilla.

What are your thoughts on this month's selection?

February: A month of Samples: Perfumes: The Results

Back in February I decided to wear a different perfume each DAY and then report back as to which I'd buy full size.

Here are the keepers (14 in all):

Week 1:

2. 4160Tuesdays Sleep Knot EdP - this is a beautiful blend of jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang and black pepper.

5. Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel EdP - I own the very gorgeous Rose Silence by Miller Harris. This one is light with a hint of sea salt, flowers with vetivert, patchouli, oak moss and leather.

Week 2:

9. Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita EdP - I used to wear Ormonde Jayne Frangipani, a beautiful tropical floral scent. Sampaquita is also floral with notes of lychee, bergamot, grass oil and magnolia flowers. Going to pick up the Discovery Set soon.

10. .vero.profumo Rozy EdP - this came in my October Bloom Perfumery Subscription and has notes of honey, damask rose, passionfruit, lilac, peach, honey and sandalwood. It really is lovely.

Week 3:

15. Phaedon Oriban EdT - another one from Bloom Perfumery which came in my December pack. It is quite woody with ambroxan, incense, musk and sandalwood.

17. Le Labo Rose 31 - I adore their Tubereuse 40 (New York) which is hard to find. The Rose 31 is based on Grasse roses with woody notes of cedar, cumin and amber. You can pick this one up at Liberty.

18. 4160Tuesdays Dirty Honey EdP (not in pic have mislaid) - which is a sexy scent with honey and orange blossom.

19. 4160Tuesdays Who Knew EdP (not in pic) - this is beautiful. A heady scent of deep rose, green tea and a splash of smokey Lapsang souchong.

20. Agonist Vanilla Marble EdP - this came in my The Perfume Society Scent with Love Box and is an edible vanilla...so lush. With top notes of vanilla, almond and tiare flowers, a heart of orchid, white fig, amber and patchouli  with a base of sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean and benzoin.

Week 4:

22. Carner Cuirs EdP (not in pic) - in November Bloom Perfumery mixed up the sample packs and the girls got the one for the boys. This scent by Carner was my favourite in November. It has notes of saffron, gaiac wood, sandalwood, Texas cedar, violet, Amyris wood, oud, patchouli, leather, musk, tonka bean, cistus and nagarmotha.  I also love Tardes by Carner - see my review HERE.

23. Robert Piguet Fracas EdP - a cult classic and a love or hate scent. A heady scent with notes of tuberose, jasmine, jonquil, gardenia, Bulgarian roses, orange flower, sandalwood vetivert and musk. This is an evening time scent for me.

24. L'Artisan Mure et Musc EdT - this was the first perfume I tried from L'Artisan and remains my favourite to this day. A luscious blackberry scent with hints of musk and fruits.

27. 4160Tuesdays Doe in the Snow EdP - a fresh peachy floral with woods. Full size of this is my next buy.

28. PG 15 Ilang Ivohibe - another from Bloom Perfumery subscription. I received this in my first sample pack. It has top notes of lavender and vanilla, a heart of Egyptian jasmine, iris butter, orange and ylang ylang with a base of patchouli.

Do you wear any of these perfumes?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: February 2016

My February Bloom Perfumery subscription arrived on the final day in February! I've been enjoying trying out the scents which are spicy, sensual and slightly aphrodisiac.

My absolute favourite this month is Just In: Nanban by Arquiste EdP (1.6ml - £2, 100ml £135) which is smokey and woody. With notes of black pepper, black tea, Chinese osmanthus, coffee, copaiba balm, frankincense, leather, myrrh, saffron and styrax.

My second favourite is the unusual New In: PG10.1 Bouquet Massai by PG EdP (1.6ml - £2, 50ml - £81.50) which has notes of coffee (it gives the floral notes an unusual coffee aroma!), karo karounde, magnolia, cashmeran, peony, tolu balm, peach and sandalwood.

I'm also loving Best Seller: Exclusive: Rubj by EdP .vero.profumo (1.2ml - £5, 50ml - £156) which is a heady lush floral with top notes of bergamot, mandarin, neroli and passionfruit with heart notes of basil, orange blossom and tuberose and a base of cedar, musk and oakmoss.

Best Seller: Embers by Rouge Bunny Rouge Edp (1.6ml - £2, 50ml - £95) is a beautiful sexy smokey scent. With top notes of cloves, nutmeg and pink pepper and heart notes of freesia, jasmine, cistus and incense with a base of styrax, Peru balsam and sandalwood.

Exclusive: Dzari by Phaedon EdT (1.6ml - £2, 100ml - £69) with notes of cashmeran, cedarwood, dates, malaga wine, sandalwood and tonka beans. The drydown is sweet and spicy.

The final perfume this month is Caravelle Epicee by Frapin EdP (1.6ml - £2, 100ml - £98) which is spicy and woody. It has top notes of coriander and nutmeg, a heart of gaiac wood, pepper and thyme and a base of amber, patchouli, sandalwood and tobacco.

I've actually really enjoyed wearing all the perfumes in February's subscription pack.  Do you have any favourites this month or are there any from the selection you fancy trying?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: October 2015

Saturday was a good day for parcels and one of them was my October Bloom Perfumery sample pack.

This month it's evening scents - luxe floral formulas "olfactive equivalents of tiaras and mink stoles".

I'm finding I'm loving the perfumes from Parfumerie Générale - this month it's Gardenia Grand Soir EdP (50ml - £81.50, 1.6ml sample - £2) - A lush green Gardenia with top notes of Bergamot and Green Accord, heart notes of Gardenia and Sandalwood with a base of Musk.

My second favourite is Rozy EdP (.vero.profumo.) (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) - a delicious fruity honey rose with top notes of Damask Rose and Passion Fruit, a heart of Lilac and Peach with base notes of Honey and Sandalwood.

Next up is Jasmin et Cigarette EdP (Etat Libre D'Orange) (50ml - £70) - "a reference to old Hollywood chic" with notes of Jasmine Absolute, tobacco, Apricot, Tonka Beans, Curcuma, Amber, Cedarwood and Musk.

New in is Shermine EdP (Huitieme) (50ml - £88, 1.6ml - £2) - "a rich powdery perfume with a fantasy ermine note". With Argentinian Lemon and Iris-Ermine accord.

Classic Dali EdP (Salvador Dali) (50ml - £49, 1.6ml - £5) - "an absolute classic". It has top notes of Bergamot, Violet Leaf and Clove with heart notes of Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Mimosa with a base of Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Patchouli and Musk. This is quite powdery which I usually avoid - but I quite like this one!

Just landed Duftbluten by Nishane (50ml extrait de Parfum - £120, 1ml - £5) - is a "musky woody floral". It has top notes of Gardenia and Magnolia with heart notes of Osmanthus and Patchouli with a base of Frankincense and Oakmoss.

Introducing Photoshop Oil (Ami lyok) - a moisturising body oil with a little bit of shimmer and Monoi Tiare flower oil, shea butter and tocopherol - which is a lovely extra!

What are your thoughts as to this month's selection?