Perfume Review: Tonka 25 by Le Labo

Aesthetically, Le Labo is one of the coolest brands out there. Everything they do looks hip, from the typewriter font of their labels to the industrially crushed cans that hold their candles. But Le Labo isn’t a case of style over substance – they actually have style and substance in spades, and many of their fragrances have something interesting to say. The coolness of of Le Labo has made them a brand with a cult following so it’s no surprise that their first fragrance in almost three years (refreshing when every other niche brand is launching multiple fragrances a year, let’s be real) is causing quite the stir…

That new fragrance is called Tonka 25 and it is composed by none other than Daphné Bugey, the perfumer behind the likes of AURA by MUGLER and L’Artisan Parfumeur’s La Botanique collection. Le Labo describes Tonka 25 as “an addictive, dark fragrance” that “evokes the smell of warm skin and resinous wood”. This is a fragrance of contrast – one that celebrates the sensual nature of exotic woods and pairs it with a gourmand twist to highlight exciting new facets.

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Perfume Review: Velvet Incenso by Dolce & Gabbana

OK, full disclosure time! I don’t think I have covered that many D&G fragrances on The Candy Perfume Boy in my seven years in blogging. Why? Well, being completely honest, I don’t think much of their offering cuts the mustard, and whilst I am here for celebrating the great in both the mainstream and niche arenas, D&G fragrances have seldom fallen into the good parts of either of these spheres. But, I am not one to deny a good fragrance its moment in the sun and today I shall be sharing with you a scent that is officially the very best Dolce & Gabbana fragrance I have tried to date. How’s that for a build up?

The scent in questions is Velvet Incenso from D&G’s exclusive Velvet Collection – their answer to Tom Ford’s Private Blend line and Chanel’s Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection, because let’s face it, you are nobody these days if you don’t have a separate niche line under your umbrella. Velvet Incenso is described as a fusion of the Mediterranean and the Orient that celebrates the historical ingredient of incense and transforms it “into a glittering mosaic of sizzling resins”. It sounds goooooooood.

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Perfume Review: Essence Nº10 Amande Tonka by Elie Saab

I have a very high level of respect for the Elie Saab fragrances. Unlike lots of fashion brands that head into the market at this late stage in the game, Elie Saab has a very clear olfactory vision that feels inextricably linked to their design aesthetic. What’s more, the brand has worked solely with one perfumer (the incomparable Francis Kurkdjian) to ensure that their scents all carry the same threads, resulting in a beautiful, luminous style that is undeniably Elie Saab.

In Elie Saab’s Essence Collection, Francis Kurkdjian really gets to stretch his legs and create scents that don’t share the style of Le Parfum, Saab’s signature scent. So far they’ve done wonderful things with oud, rose, gardenia, musk and now, for the latest addition to the collection, two materials get to take centre stage: almond and tonka bean. Essence Nº10: Amande Tonka is a delicious oud to two of perfumery’s most delectable notes and guess what? It’s really tasty….

“Almond essence blends with tonka bean to weave a voluptuous and subtle palette of almond nuances.”

– Elie Saab

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Scented Pencils by Caran d’Ache

We love all sorts of scented things here at The Candy Perfume Boy. There is no discrimination when it comes to scented products – give us perfume, candles, body lotions, shower gels – you name, we’ll sniff it. I don’t know why I say ‘we;, because it’s just little old me, but nyway I digress. Every once in a while a slightly unusual scented product will come along, one that is entirely new and more than just a little bit intriguing. These things will either make us exclaim ‘what the smell’ (get it?) or make us fall head over heels for their fragrant beauty. Today’s post is about a product that definitely falls within the category of the latter.

When I was asked whether I’d like to try some scented pencils from Caran d’Ache, my initial thought was “scented pencils are a thing?” quickly followed by “sure, why the hell not”. I do love a pencil, which is no surprise seeing as I am a writer, and I much prefer them to pens. There just is something wonderfully soft about pencils – something romantic about their impermanence and their delicate feel. Caran d’Ache, the Swiss manufacturer of art and luxury goods know a thing or two about pencils and with their scented pencils they’ve created something rather unique: pencils that write and smell beautifully.

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Solaris by Vanacci – Wearable Scented Accessories with Lockstone Technology

I’m always open to new and exciting ways to wear fragrance – methods that add to or change the standard way to wear scent, which is to spray (because dabbing is waste of everybody’s time, let’s face it). Of course there are many gimmicks out there and it is really difficult to beat a good old spray (or ten) but every now and then a decent alternative comes along that either changes the way one wears fragrance, or at the very least enhances it.

I was recently contacted by Vanacci, a British Company who make a range of scented jewellery, in addition to many other luxury accessories for men. Now, the idea of fragrant accessories isn’t entirely new and many niche fragrance brands offer some form of scented wearable, whether that be the high end jewels with scentable ceramic inserts of By Kilian or the scent-soaked leather bracelets offered by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. But what makes Vanacci different is their affordability, in addition to the fact that they use a special porous material called ‘Lockstone’ which absorbs fragrance and slowly releases it throughout the day. The idea is to have a fashionable accessory that carries with it, the scent of your favourite fragrance. Colour me intrigued!

What struck me about Vanacci’s Lockstone collection is just how attractive it is – the products, which include bracelets, cufflinks and pendants across a number of capsule collections are handsome and streamlined. They’ve managed to create scented jewellery that is simple and unobtrusive, and that can be paired with any outfit. In particular though, my eyes were drawn to the Solaris bracelets, which I must say, were particularly eye-catching. So, to put Vanacci to the test I trialled two of their Solaris bracelets over a few days so see whether; a) they really were as stylish as they looked; and b) they hit the mark as a suitably scented accessory. Let’s see how they faired…

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Creme Pour Les Mains au Beurre d’Iris (Iris Hand Cream) by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle & Olivia Giacobetti

If you hadn’t have guessed from Friday’s post, I’m a bit of a Frederic Malle fan-boy. There simply isn’t a single dud within his finely curated Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle collection. I own many, I wear them often and as I’ve previously stated on this blog, Malle’s collection is one of the very few where I’d happily own a bottle of each scent (wouldn’t that be lovely?). So there you go, I’m a fan and I know that many of you are too!

One thing I also love about Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle is the fact that the brand also has a range of incredible products for the body and home. There are candles, room sprays and rubber incense, not to mention body butters, soaps and shower gels a plenty! But there are also a number of scent-specific products that belong solely to one fragrance in the collection, for example; hair mist and after sun scented with Carnal Flower; and hair & body oil scented with Portrait of a Lady. There’s a careful randomness to this, with the products picked because they compliment the odour profile and spirit of the product. It’s easy to bring a product out in every fragrance in the collection but it requires a measured restraint to pick out the best scents for the best products. So kudos, as always, has to go to Frederic Malle for curating everything so carefully.

The latest product from Frederic Malle that I’m obsessing over is the Iris Hand Cream (Creme Pour Les Mains au Beurre d’Iris) which boasts a beautiful iris scent created by Perfumer Olivia Giacobetti. The cream contains a number of patented molecules that feature a film that clings to water molecules, thus preventing dehydration of the top layers of skin, in addition to a further film that protects against ageing and pollution. Its scent is a nod to the house of Medici, who brought the origins of perfume making to France and had a penchant for scenting their hands and gloves with iris hand cream. This is a very special product indeed, one filled with technology, history and beauty.

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Tactile Tuberose – Robbie Honey Tuberose Scented Candle Review

Regular visitors may know that I have somewhat of a predilection for white florals. Actually, that’s an understatement, and I should correct myself by saying that, in truth, I blinking love anything that sends forth a hefty wind of white floral loveliness. My favourite fragrances are classics like Robert Piguet’s Fracas (a vampish tuberose) and Cartier’s La Panthère (a feline gardenia), and a thousand others. I’m an addict with no intention of curbing my lust for hot white petals anytime soon.

So, imagine my glee when I heard that a line of white floral-inspired scented candles just launched. The line comes from “one of London’s most foremost florists [and] Floral Creative”, Robbie Honey, who is launching his lifestyle brand with four candles (each with a 60hr burn time) inspired by white flowers, specifically; ‘Muguet des Bois’, ‘Jasmine’, ‘Casa Blanca’ and ‘Tuberose’. Of course I was immediately drawn to the heady, intoxicating signature of the Tuberose (I just can’t help myself) which, as you will see, lives up to the resplendent nature of its floral muse.

“In a garden filled with night-blooming that I first became hypnotized by their intoxicating fragrance. Cut after nightfall, their creamy petals exude an intense perfume; softened with sandalwood and amber.”

– Robbie Honey

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