Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

The promise of beguiling black orchid scent, the suggestion of classical glamour, the retro advertisement reminiscent of George Hurrell’s famous shot of Veronica Lake–and Tom Ford’s solo debut, Black Orchid became my most anticipated 2006 launch. When I finally held the gorgeous black glass bottle in my hand and sprayed the perfume on my skin, I envisioned something along the lines of Rochas Femme, the radiant sweetness wrapped into the rich animalic warmth. …

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I have been wrapping up a few projects over the past few days, which turned out to be rather busy. I returned home on Sunday night to discover your great responses to Guy Robert’s list of legendary perfume classics. Now, I would have loved to know your own classical favorites. If you were to make a list of fragrances everyone must try at least once, what would it include?

Here are my own choices (in no particular order, limited to a practical number, not including anything that was discontinued or reformulated beyond recognition):

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In his book, Les Sens du Parfum, the perfumer Guy Robert lists some of the perfumers whose work he considers to be especially outstanding, alongside with some of their most notable masterpieces. Robert is the author of such fragrances as Amouage Gold, Christian Dior Dioressence, Hermès Calèche, Hermès Equipage and my own favorite Hermès Doblis. I always considered this list as including the classics one definitely must try. Unfortunately, some of them are no longer available, or not available in their original form. If you have a particular interest in seeing a review of any of them, please let me know. Cordon Vert is the only one I have not tried from this list.

François Coty — Chypre, L’Origan, L’Ambre Antique, L’Emeraude, La Cologne Cordon Vert.
Jacques Guerlain — Mitsouko, Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue. …

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Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

Even if Ormonde Jayne Orris Noir does not present its promised black iris, it more than makes up for it with its exquisite combination of spices, incense ashes and velvety woods. Its form crafted out of resinous and balsamic notes is nevertheless rendered as luminous and weightless, like silk, rather than wool. …

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Eadward Fragrances has introduced its own website, Eadward.com. The line created by Kareema McLendon in June of 2004 includes bath, body and fragrance products. Besides the existing collection, new scents will be added: Fruit Noir (blackcurrant and black tea), Fig (a sweet interpretation of green fig), Tropic (vanilla, coconut and musk).

The soy candle collection will include: Fruit Noir (green fig, blackcurrant, pomegranate and other fruity accords), Beaute (bergamot, white grapefruit, rosewood, ginger and spicy accords), Confection (raspberry, blackberry, vanilla), Green Citrus (lime, sweet basil and linden blossom, Chocolat de Blanc (white chocolate, blackcurrant and vanilla).