Sniffapalooza! Part the Second

I didn't spend as much time sniffing on Day Two of Sniffapalooza, but did end up hitting three separate shops.

First was Bond No. 9. I was primarily interested in sniffing their two newest, High Line - named after the new public park on NY's West Side - and Montauk. The former was a bright sunny scent, a little tangy, a little musky. The latter, a new Andy Warhol scent, was a bit disappointing, as it possessed the same shrill icepick-in-the-head sensation that I found in Harrods for Men and the Signature Oud.

After claiming my goody bag (one sample of each of Bond's scents, except High Line and the not-yet-released Montauk - I've got so many of these now, I can open my own store) I headed to Lafco, a shop that carries the Santa Maria Novella line of products almost exclusively, with a few other brands. I was there for the soap - Claus Porto soaps last forever and smell terrific, and I ended up buying at least 6 bars of various fragrances.

Around the corner from Lafco is a new shop, MiN NY, I'll mention that shop more in a future post. In the meantime, I had fun browsing the lines of fragrance (including Parfum d'Empire and Penhaligon's) and sipping Prometheus Capsaicin Spiced Elixirs while eavesdropping on conversations in the crowded room.

I made no fragrance purchases on Sunday, but I think the three bottles I bought on Saturday was quite enough, don't you?

Read part 1 here.

Naughty or Nice? Agent Provocateur Maitresse

Notes: lotus, ylang ylang, osmanthus, jasmine sambac, velvet white suede
When I think "Maitresse," I don't think of the literal translation of "mistress" meaning "hostess" as in party hostess or lady of the house.  Nor the dubiously-moraled type that sleeps with your husband, either.  What comes to my mind is the naughty type of mistress, the type that you say, "yes, ma'am" to as she shackles you to the ceiling and prepares the ball gag.  The Maitress of the 1976 movie by the same name, she who works as a professional dominatrix and is the object of obsession for one Gerard Depardieu.  A Maitresse who smells of leather or latex and sex.

Alas, Agent Provocateur's Maitresse is Martha Stewart in Manolo Blahniks.  Far more the hostess than the dominatrix (although known to crack the whip when warranted.  Or not.) A rather unextraordinary white floral, a little sweet, a little powdery, but with an undertone of something akin to the scent of a brand new leather purse, or pair of shoes.  That "suede" note doesn't last long, however, and the drydown of Maitresse is merely a pleasant white floral.  Not entirely innocent, yet not a bad girl in the least.  A pretty scent.

I am a little disappointed, especially after the company's somewhat raunchy and definitely sexy Agent ProvocateurParfum.  Not to say that I don't like Maitresse - I do.  I like it better than the original fragrance (that patchouli thing, you know?) but I can't help but expect more naughtiness from a lingerie company.  It's not Victoria's Secret, after all.

Annick Goutal Passion

Notes: tuberose, jasmine, vanilla, oakmoss

Passion opens up with a weird note that immediately reminds me of "hots," the chopped hot peppers one puts on an Italian coldcut or steak sub. I'm pleased to say that it promptly turns into recognizable jasmine note, but one that is neither heady nor indolic.  There is a sweetness beneath the flowers which is perhaps the vanilla, although it is not particularly vanillaic...more like a unflavored simple syrup type of sweetness.  But not cloying in the least.

In the drydown, the white florals and vanilla combine to the effect of cool cleanness, not exactly soapy, but in my mind, fresh nonetheless.  And I'm not finding the oakmoss in there anywhere.

I've stated before that I'm no fan of white floral scents (although I am noticing that they are growing on me), particularly jasmine, yet I find myself loving Passion.  My FFG* has given me such a generous sample of Passion that it is not likely that I will need to invest in a bottle any time soon, but, I'm pretty sure that when I find myself running out, it will go on my ever-expanding wish list.