Prada Candy

It's funny had you said I would go through the bottles of one houses perfumes easily, I would not have guessed Prada. Not that I don't get the aesthetic of Prada but I am just not that high minded about my fashion, not that I don't have a concept of a beauty or that I can't appreciate the aesthetic of Prada, but I'm not a Prada woman unless you take into account their fragrances, then I am totally their woman. I went through a bottle of Infusion d'Iris eau de parfum, easily, garnered compliments, and have often consider replacing the bottle I used up. It was my easy elegant go anywhere scent that made me feel put together and at ease.

The news then came out about Candy and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, a gourmand from Prada? Then the advertising fun, playful, young bright exuberant pink, uh oh? Really, we should have all known better, this is Prada we are talking about. To say the aesthetic of this house is well controlled is an understatement.

So I finally catch my first whiff of Candy and an hour later I have a bottle, it is good, but completely not what is advertised, yes this will appeal to the young, but this scent will appeal to all ages.

First off ignore the name Candy, there is really nothing candy-ish about it, maybe hints of those amazing sea salt caramels in France or the delicious goat's milk caramel from Mexico called Cajeta but like I said hints. This scent though is firmly rooted in the Infusion family, it starts off with the gauzy note that always makes me think of papyrus and mineral dust but instead of being layered over iris this time it is layered over benzoin and white musk.  Towards the end a milky vanilla bean caramel shows up but it is light never ever overpowering, more like quality of two minutes after eating one of those delicious sea salt caramels where there is still a hint of nutty smooth sweetness in your mouth but for the most part it is gone. The effect is warm and comforting, it belongs to the family of Lea St. Barth scents, easy and comfortable but just really really good to smell. The thing is also it is very tasteful this scent is not going to offend anyone but it is interesting, it is a gourmand but one that runs away from heavy confections and rather is meant to remind the memory of confections, like this:

If I were to be really frank this is the gourmand for the people who think they hate gourmand, not diet gourmand, but rather the memory of really good treat.

Try if you like: Serge Luten Un Bois Vanille, Prada Infusion d'Iris Absolue, Al-Rehab Dalal, Kenzo Kenzo Amour, Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee.

first image: 'Cosas Intimas #72' by Conrad Roset 
second image: http://www.manusmenu.com/blue-persian-salt-caramel-sauce

His and Her's

I admit I am fascinated by the concept of complimentary female and male fragrances. Although, I will add before going on that I fully support men and women going across the gender lines of perfume and wearing exactly what they want. And now back to his and her's fragrances, the fact is rarely do designers actually come out with his and her's scents that actually complement each other. So I have decided to propose my combinations that actually compliment each other from the catergories of male and female fragrance and I fully support the crossing of gender lines with these fragrances.

Bvlgari pour Homme Soir and Prada Infusion d'Iris

I would have never smelled the similarities of these two fragrances had my boyfriend not bought himself Bvlgarie pour Homme Soir on a whim. In fact I will say this on a paper strip these don't smell alike all, but once on the skin do they begin to share magical similarities. The magic note that brings them together: papyrus. Infusion d'Iris has always reminded me of the scent of papyrus but papyrus is not one of its listed notes, I suspect that Infusion d'Iris achieves this quality with the mixing of iris and vetiver. As for Bvlgarie pour Homme Soir well the papyrus note is achieved because papyrus is one of its notes.

The differences between these two are as interesting as their similarities. Infusion d'Iris remains through out its process to drydown with hints of green sap to complement the dryness of the iris and vetiver blend. Where as Bvlgari pour Homme Soir hints at the lightest fougere notes and dark violets surrounding a powdery grey iris note.

These two scents achieve a lovely cool elegance that is perfect for a spring and can easily be worn by either sex.

Official notes for both fragrances:

Infusion d'Iris: Galbanum, Mandarin Orange, Orange Blossom, Lentisk, Iris, Cedar, Vetiver, Benzoin, Frankincense

Bvlgari pour Homme Soir: Bergamot, Darjeeling Tea, Papyrus, Musk, Amber.

image provided by artnet.com

Male and Female Anglo-American Raccoons by Nicolas Huet 1817