Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Outlaws, part 1

I am so happy Carol organized sample packages for all of us who didn't participate in the Outlaw Perfume Project but still wanted to try the perfumes that got so many great reviews.

I spent a lot of time in the last 10 days or so since the package arrived smelling them over and over again and trying to gather notes that would do them justice.
I plan on writing about each of them and because I can't talk about them all in one post, I'll do several but in no way does appearing in the first means I think those are the best. Actually, I can't really say which one I find the best. I would like to own several of them, and some are extremely interesting but at the same time, not something I like to wear. I usually don't spend so much time sniffing perfumes before deciding to write about them, but these I feel I could smell over and over again and each time discover a new facet I didn't smell before.


Wing and a Prayer: Notoriety

Notes:Oakmoss,Amber,Rose,Wild Rose,Lavender, Violet Leaf,Carnation absolute,Geranium,Bergamot and Rosewood

This was the first sample I took out of the bag. It was instant love. It's piquant, green, earthy and well, slightly meaty for only a short while in the beginning (missable really). It has a nose-clearing sharpness of geranium, lavender and rosewood while at the same time it smells tame. Then it gets a rainy, metallic quality and gets very dark, my thoughts were that I'm finally getting what the oakmoss should be like. The original rose (the way I learned it smells here) is there as well, amid some light woodiness, like it's a bush, not an actual tree.
It really escapes me for words, it's a bitter rose smelling slightly patchoulish (there is no patchouli in the notes). It's really another shapeshifter, in the end, I think it smells refreshingly cute and sweeter than before.


Tabela: Rose of Cimarron

Notes: pink pepper, black pepper, pandanus, rose absolute, wild rose absolute, jasmine absolute, labdanum, patchouli, angelica root, ambrette seed, blond tobacco and amyris

I got to smell this directly after Notoriety so my initial thoughts were, wow, a sexy rose and completely different from Notoriety. It reminded me of jasmine I bought in an Indian shop, like there were sandalwood and cedar in there as well but I guess I could be mistaking those for a patchouli with something else. It has that dark, sultry feel to it. It does have that peppery sharpness which I love, but it's also fuller somehow than Notoriety while at the same time more dry. They both drydown to a nice ambery, rose, light woody feel.


Providence Perfume Co: Gypsy
Top Notes: Galangal, Lavender, Lemon Petitgrain, Cardamom
Heart: Pink Lotus, Bulgarian Lavender Absolute, Violet Leaf
Base Notes: Tonka, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli, Costus, Vanilla

I find it a bit difficult to talk about these perfumes as I often can't describe the half of what I smell. For me, this starts peppery, green and strange. I love how I classify perfumes as strange, like that means the same to everyone. :)  Anaway, on my second go, I was completely sure I smelled cinammon but as you can see from the notes, it's not there. My conclusion is that cardamom and petitgrain made me think that.
Then it gets sweet and resiny with something green like herb peeking through. It's at the same time cool and hinting of sunshine.
I like it very much and my word for describing this is charming - spicily sweet (cardamom is in there) and slightly floral. Charming really.

Pic of rose by: http://www.tambela.com/

10 comments:

  1. It looks like you've been having fun sniffing! I've had the pleasure of wearing Anya's Garden Light and Amberess, but those are the only two Outlaws I've tried. I noticed immediately how they differed from other perfumes; more freshly intense at the outset but they don't last quite as long on the skin. Natural ingredients are to be enjoyed in the moment, I've found. Very much looking forward to your thoughts on the rest!

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  2. Peppery, green and strange is how Gypsy smells to me too. I especially love the strange part :) Haven't tried the others yet.

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  3. Carrie, a lot of fun! :) Unfortunately, I noticed I don't seem to take much account of longevity. Only if a perfume lasts extremely long on my skin. But some of these have good longevity (the problem is I don't remember which ones). :D

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  4. Marina, I really look forward to discovering more of the Providence perfumes (and other from the outlaw creators). Those are some seriously creative people.

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  5. I love Provindence Perfume Gypsy. The drydown is so beautiful, when wearing it I sniff my wrist over and over again.

    I need to dig out my samples again and sniff along with your post. I feel very challenged by these fragrances because I am not familiar with many of the notes!

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  6. Ines, that is a great post - even though I remotely knew the names of the Perfume Houses you are reviewing, this is so up-close; this post helped me to get to know them a bit better.. Tx.

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  7. JoanElaine, each time I look at the list of notes provided with samples, all I think is, no way am I going to smell half of them. :) Besides, the best thing is, they make a whole that smells differently than you'd think each note would. I just enjoy them as they come. ;)

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  8. Hi Jolanta, thanks for stopping by. :) I love that they are artisans like you and are finally getting some deserved love and recognition (by that I mean there's been a lot of talk of natural perfumers on many blogs).

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  9. Thanks for these reviews: I have yet to try any scents from the Outlaw project, but you have got me intrigued about the rose one in particular!

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  10. Vanessa, I'm always wondering about how will you like different scents that intrigues me because I never know where your nose will take you. And it seems you're venturing outside your (did you call them bland?) scents. :)

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