Perfume Reviews by Beau Chapeau

Targhee Forest by Rogue Perfumery

ooh, this is old school.. so, up front we have the oakmoss/juniper/fir/pine combo resting on a backdrop that is warm and lush.. the florals give it a slight soapy feel adding to the old school charm, and there's a camphorous quality that seems to seamlessly bind everything together. It has a sweetness to it, a cut grass kind of sweetness that is almost addictive.. quite a few hours in, and it is drying down to a sweet green, musky scent that had me scratching my head for quite a while, then it came to me... Moss Breches.. yes, this is a definite thumbs up from me.. a wonderful, calm, bewitching fragrance.. Well done Manny, this is divine..

Mousse Illuminée by Rogue Perfumery

the opening really doesn't prepare you for the journey to come.. a truly wonderful, captivating fragrance.. it's moments like this that leave you in awe. Beautiful.

Opus XIV : Royal Tobacco by Amouage

ok, I'll start by saying that this has become my favourite 'tobacco' fragrance. Why? Because this is NOT your usual boozy/sweet affair, this is a real symphony of a fragrance. Even though the frankincense and tobacco are the main focus, it's the supporting notes that give this fragrance its depth and balance. Everything works together seamlessly. Even when it becomes a skin scent, it still has depth, and complexity. The opening is a big, dry, ashy frankincense, that lovers of Tribute will immediately appreciate. There are WTH moments that will take you by surprise, such as when the anise pops up for the first time... pure class! The tobacco is smooth, and is perfectly complemented by the wonderfully balanced, deep, rich sweetness. As far as I'm concerned, this is an absolute joyride of a fragrance, and my thanks go out to Renaud for the vision, and Cécile Zarokian for the magic. IMHO a modern masterpiece, and the jewel in the Amouage crown. If you 'get it' you will totally understand, if not, then c'est la vie

Oud Stars : Alexandria by Xerjoff

well ok, 1st impressions... on application everything is exploding, before finding a resting place... you can smell the sweetness, the florals, the woodiness(?) nothing appears to dominate... it reminds my wife of toffee apples... it settles to become not overly sweet or floral, due to the oud giving it a certain 'darkness' and depth, which at times has that Gao feel to it.... for those that feel the notes suggest a more 'feminine' fragrance can rest at ease, because as it progresses, it becomes an entirely different beast....the lavender when it appears, gives it a burnt 'feel', which adds a very unexpected edge....All of this within the 1st hour.... this is one of those fragrances which will reveal more and more with each wearing..... so all can say is that so far, this is my kind of fragrance.... it has plenty going on, and delights me with its journey... a risky blind buy, some might say, but for me .... I'm loving it!!

Harrods Amber by Bond No. 9

Harrods Amber.......this is NOT a safe/generic fragrance. What we have here is a warm, spicy/peppery ambery/woody floral....The amber in this is not the thick syrupy amber that we usually expect....this seems drier but still sweet.
This starts off very resinously, almost like freshly varnished wood (with, I believe, saffron taking the lead) which quickly calms down as the warm, spicy, floral heart makes it's appearance. This is a big, truly unisex floral, which Bond No9 do so well imho. This floral heart persists as the wonderful, sweet, ambery/woody drydown slowly blends its way into the picture. This is not a simple fragrance, and it will take a few more wearings to truly appreciate the finer nuances of this fragrance.
Sillage and longevity imo, have never been a problem with Bond fragrances...and this is no exception, and it really does take most of the day for this journey to unfold......
It is definitely a 'grower', and a very, very addictive fragrance.....Full marks.

L'Air du Désert Marocain by Tauer

What a wonderful fragrance .....perfect for an evening at 'Moyo at Spier'...'Under the starlit African sky, set in a garden in the Western Cape Winelands, Moyo at Spier is unlike any other restaurant. Bedouin tents and gazebos are placed throughout the garden and create a setting similar to a nomadic African village.'
Many South Africans will be familiar with this place.......and this is what I picture, when I wear this.............Perfect!
A big thank you to Andy Tauer.