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A*Men Pure Malt is the most recent interpretation of Thierry Mugler’s A*Men. Pure Malt was inspired by the Scottish peaty whisky which is redolent of sensual woody accents thus creating an exciting malt experience, gourmand style. Aged in oak barrel, this limited edition variant of A*Men is a cocktail of luxury spirits with a distinct boozy note that balances the food-y notes of the fragrance.

Pure Malt smells a lot like A*Men Pure Coffee (2008) sans the coffee, of course. It is rather a paled version of A*Men but the gourmand character is still noticeably pronounced. The top notes are suggestive of booze then transitions into toffee-malt sweetness. The dry down smells warm with just a dollop of patchouli paired with bits of vanilla and musk. In respect of potency, Pure Malt is less intense. The creaminess brought forth by the woodsy and malt whisky undertone is pleasant without being too cloyingly sweet. Sillage, on the one hand, is rather short-lived as compared with the previous variants. Since Pure Malt is a tamed version of A*Men, longevity is not at par with the original. The boozy-caramel aroma wafts nicely in the beginning then slowly exits in the dry down. The toasty gourmand accords hold longer in the dry down making the fragrance just as refined and elegant the first time you smell it.

Some perfume pundits have this notion that flankers are nothing but a ho-hum iteration of the parent- they simply lack creativity. Fragrance houses tinker with the notes to make it more intense or tone down the formulation and pass it on as an EDT. Pure Malt is a flanker indeed but what makes it different from the regular flankers is that it is nicely done. Fragrance aged in oak barrel? That is how creative Thierry Mugler is and that is just his fragrance collection. His out of this world fashion design is another story.

On the whole, the boozy notes in A*Men Pure Malt make it very manly. Would Thierry Mugler explore the booze accords in the women’s fragrances and infuse it in say, Angel? That will be an interesting olfactive-experience to look forward to.

A*Men Pure Malt is available in 100ml eau de toilette. More Thierry Mugler perfumes and colognes at discount perfume retailer, scentiments.com.

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Calvin Klein’s yearly iteration of Euphoria (2005) brings forth a collection of fruity-floral fragrances that are similar in most aspects and yet different on the whole. It’s true that some people have gotten bored of smelling the same flanker one after the other but if you’ve become loyal to a particular scent, flanker or not, wouldn’t it be fun to explore the other facets of the same fragrance? Same fragrance, reformulated, tweaked, reinvented!

Euphoria was introduced in 2005. Created by perfumers Dominique Ropion, Carlos Benaim and Loc Dong, this scent combines lush fruits with luminous floral notes. The name of the fragrance conjures a pleasurable experience, an olfactive ecstasy, if you may call it. Euphoria is intoxicating – it’s rich, smoky, floral and gourmand all in one scent. The fragrance notes are pomegranate, lotus, orchid, persimmon, green notes, champaca flower, liquid amber, mahogany wood, black violet and cream accord.

Euphoria Blossom (2006) is not as strong as Euphoria rather it’s soft and sheer. This version is notably citrusy in the opening, the peony more pronounced in the middle and the white musk more romantic. Needless to say, Euphoria Blossom is simply a toned down version of the original. In the same year, Euphoria Luminous Lustre. The notes are similar to the original but this version is peppered with glitters. So, whenever you apply it on your skin, you’ll get a dainty sparkle to finish off your scent.

Euphoria Crystalline (2007) comes in a chic floral-inspired bottle however the liquid inside is the same as its predecessor. In 2008, it was Crystalline redux and Euphoria Crystal was launched. It has the same formula, the same floral pattern, the same bottle but this time the flacon is encrusted with Swarovski crystals. This flanker is more of a collector’s item especially for those who fancy bejeweled perfume bottles.

In Spring 2009, Calvin Klein released the spring edition called Euphoria Spring Temptation. This fragrance, albeit a flanker, totally smells different from the original. The notes are guava leaf, pear blossom, pink lily, white sandalwood, water notes, amber and musk. The opening is fruity sweet, very ripe in fact as though harvest season is in air. The introduction of the water accords counters the sweetness of the fruits and in the same fashion, gives it a more refreshing aroma – tempting but never too cloying.

Five years, five euphoric fragrances from Calvin Klein. Although some perfumistas would not regard Euphoria as spine tingling as it claims to be, it sure is a great respite from the shared fragrances the CK fragrance house is churning out in the past years.

Learn more about Calvin Klein Euphoria at discount perfume online fragrance store, scentiments.com.

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Pink-colored scents are such an eye-candy; they’re trendy, chic and sweet. Every pink scent I encounter is a lush floral bouquet embellished with fruits or musk accords. The mingling of notes creates a dramatic flair to achieve a distinct character way above its peers. That’s the kind of image fragrance houses want to project to the perfume loving public.

Pink fragrances also signify the modernity in the world of perfumery. Mainstream scents, more often than not, are light and ephemeral and not to mention, pink!

There are a lot pink-colored scents in retail nowadays. But what is it about the pink-colored juices that every designer fragrance house comes up with its own collection of pink scents?

Let’s check out some of the more popular pink fragrances in the perfumery

Thierry Mugler Garden of Stars – Pivoine Angel
Peony is the most pronounced note while patchouli and vanilla warm the background. The floral combo of peony, rose and lily of the valley sets the stage for the gourmand-ish aroma Angel is known for. It’s slightly sweet, spicy and sprinkled with green accords. Pivoine Angel is part of Angel’s Garden of Stars’ flanker. This lovely pink juice was concocted by Olivier Cresp in 2005.

Femme Hugo Boss
Femme is a well-executed floral-musk fragrance. You can say that it’s one of the safest feminine scents around; safest in the sense that it’s not too much of a heady floral. Femme may smell familiar (reviews say that it smells like other floral fragrances) but in the dry down, it softens into a beautiful elegant floral that blends well with the warm musk.

Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb
Floral power in a grenade-inspired bottle – this is Flowerbomb. The first fragrance by Dutch designers Viktor&Rolf, Flowerbomb is a decadent floral scent where the sweetness is cut by the edgy notes of patchouli. Designed as a floriental fragrance, this feminine scent tops the charts in the women’s perfumes category.  

Lacoste Dream of Pink
Dream of Pink is undoubtedbly for the young audience. It’s fresh, sweet and very trendy. Touch of Pink and Love of Pink are part of Lacoste’s “Pink” scents. This perfume is consist of berries, iced tea, rose, lotus and sandalwood. Introduced in 2008, Lacoste Dream of Pink is just right for daytime.

Calvin Klein Euphoria
Euphoria is dark, enigmatic and exotic. The contrast of fruits and florals exude an alluring fragrance most fitting to a sophisticated woman. Some perfumistas say that Euphoria is so Angel-ish (Thierry Mugler). Perhaps, it’s the sweet-smoky finish emanating from the sweet-smoky accords.

There are many pink-colored fragrances in the perfumery and some were tagged as classics already. And every year, more perfumes are added to the list. You’ll never run out of options but the unfortunate thing nowadays is, most scents smell like the thousand of fragrances out there. If you find yourself lost in translation from distinguishing one perfume from another, this is not news.

If you fancy pink fragrances, there’s more of them at discount perfume retailer, scentiments.com

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Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf gained accolades for their fantasy-themed catwalk collection. With their hodge podge designs, the Dutch duo have a series of fabulous fashion shows which were a spectacle in the eyes of the public. In fact, for the fashion critics, the name Viktor & Rolf is a landmark of classic designs and avant-garde concepts that always have something interesting to convey. It could be a page from the past, something like a tryst with the traditional cuts, hems and curves or a journey to the future with designs tagged as insanely out of this world. Upside down dress, anyone? Theirs is the freedom to pencil thoughts of exaggeration, dreams and illusions and transform them into luxury clothing much to the envy of seasoned and budding designers.

In 2005, Viktor & Rolf launched their first fragrance called Flowerbomb in collaboration with L’Oreal . As the name implies, this scent is an explosive take on floral accords. You’ll pick up layers of flowers embellished with the edgy character of wood essence arising from patchouli. The notes include tea, bergamot, freesia, jasmine, rose orchid and patchouli. The depth and complexity of the notes is a treat for those who love floriental scents. Its flanker, Flowerbomb Extreme, is sweeter and darker, thus the word, extreme. It lives up to its name – it’s an overdose of everything.

Viktor & Rolf called fashion as the antidote to reality and applied the same to Flowerbomb.  A year later, Antidote, the men’s fragrance was launched. Designed by perfumers Alienor Massenet and Pierre Wargnye, Antidote carries a whopping 25 notes in its composition. The top notes are: mint leaves, Italian bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit and Guatemalan cardamom. The middle notes feature French lavender, geranium, nutmeg, cinnamon bark, freesia, orange blossom and violet. The base is a melange of rich wood accords such as amber, essence of Indonesian patchouli, cistus labdanum, vanilla iris, sandalwood, Texan white cedar, Guaiacum woods, tee moss, leather, Tonka bean and white musk. The concept is fresh oriental and it evokes a distinct smokiness that gives it a refined and polished impression as though you’ve smelled something like Aramis Life and Gucci Envy.

This year, another fragrance from Viktor & Rolf arises. It’s a far out cry from the florientals and woods of the earlier scents. This time, minimalism is the bomb. Eau Mega is a playful mix of light and fresh green notes. There’s no hints of floral overdose and wood accords Flowerbomb and Antidote are known for. The overall appeal is chic and very modern.

If Viktor & Rolf’s fragrances impressed you enough, there’s more of them at discount perfume retailer, scentiments.com.

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J’adore by Dior first came out in 1999. It’s one of the best-selling Dior fragrances known for its well-blended floral notes. For the woman who wears it, J’adore radiates a polished look complemented by the opulent floral accords that make up this feminine fragrance. The opening is a balanced fusion between the fruit and floral notes. The same floral essence is carried out through the middle and base notes. There is no single note that dominates. The mélange of accords meld together so well thus creating one unique scent where all fruits and flowers seem to dance in unison.

The notes feature melon, magnolia, pear, peach, mandarin orange, plum, tuberose, orchid, violet, freesia, lily of the valley, jasmine, rose, musk, vanilla, cedar and blackberry. J’adore is a pleasant perfume on the overall. Despite the flower power and cocktail of fruits, there is no trace of cloying sweetness of sugary fruits and cheap floral notes. In short, J’adore is a charming fragrance. It’s engaging, attractive and definitely feminine in every way.

Time may have passed by so quickly but J’adore remains one of the most popular scents amidst the many a number of fragrances in the perfumery today. Just recently, J’adore celebrated its 10th year in the industry. The floral-fruity perfume still is one of the best-selling fragrances in its collection.

Since its release a decade ago, J’adore has gone several transformations. There are different versions of the original and the latest flanker is called J’adore L’eau cologne. It’s another progeny of the floral-fruity fragrance but the fruit component is mellowed down. The notes are: lemon, citrus, bergamot, magnolia, neroli and ylang-ylang. This luxurious floral scent is fresher than the earlier flankers.

J’adore is acclaimed for its Greek amphora bottle and the golden juice inside it. The first fragrance was designed by perfumer Calice Becker. More of Dior’s J’adore at discount perfume online, scentiments.com.

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