kerosene: which one(s) to buy?

the house of kerosene is a niche perfumery based in detroit. i got a box of samples to try in order to figure out which one(s) to buy.

perfume review: indalo

indalo - the scent of africa

a couple of years ago on my first trip to cape town, i grabbed this cologne called indalo in the airport on my way out. it used to have a really neat little beady thing around the lid, but sabin appropriated it long ago for some doll or other. it's actually a men's cologne, but i loved the deep, naturey, woodsiness of it and it has a spicy, nearly cinnamony warm undertone. although i ostensibly bought it for husband, i keep it on my shelf so he forgets about it, because i love it.

i save it for occasions when i have a meeting or other occasion for which i want to feel strong, capable, invincible and perhaps just a tad masculine. so i've been wearing it all week to psyche up for that interview at my old workplace (i'm interviewing someone, i'm not trying to go back there, let's be clear on that!). i've also been known to wear it to occasions where husband's ex-wife will be present, because i always feel i need a little extra strength on those occasions.

i don't think it smells masculine on me at all, it's warm and spicy and doesn't at all give one visions of cleft chins and strong male jawlines that classic men's colognes tend to do. i think that psychologically, knowing it's a man's cologne is what does it for me. if i didn't know that, i would probably think it was just fine for women, tho' it's not a girly perfume in the least.

it's actually exactly the right balance as a unisex perfume--not at all flowery or powdery, more to the spicy side, not too heavy-handed with the musk and definitely not bright. it lingers well and mellows in a good way as you wear it throughout the day. by evening, just the warmest woody cinnamon lingers on your skin, reminding you of the strength it gave you when you needed it.

they say that the name, indalo, is a xhosa word meaning "natural" or "of the earth." and i learned as well that there is a symbol of a man holding a rainbow from a petroglyph (we know i love those) in a cave in spain that's called the indalo man as well. that indalo is a good luck charm and i guess that's a bit how i look upon this cologne--using it to give me strength and luck on occasions when i feel i need a bit of extra, but i love the notion that it's natural and of the earth as well.

i don't know if it's available outside of africa, but if you're passing through the duty free in capetown, i do recommend picking up a bottle. you can pretend it's for the man in your life like i did, but you can wear it with confidence yourself. i find it goes very well with my hugo boss suit.

perfume review: brasil dream

husband is in brazil this week in a place called montes claros, which according to him is the titoveles of brazil (we met in macedonia, so we compare most places to there, doesn't everyone do that?). if you read the wiki link, you'll find a clue as to what husband is doing in brazil. (hint: it's in the "economy" section of the entry.) but, i digress. since he's in brazil, the time seemed right for a review of my newest perfume, estee lauder's brasil dream.

i picked this one up because i was hankering for a transition to the summer perfumes and i wanted a new scent for a new job. there are a couple of others in this series--emerald dream and bali dream--neither of which ever appealed (read: went desperately wrong on me), so i was pleasantly surprised at how much i liked brasil dream. and happy it didn't go wrong.

it's the perfect seasonal transition scent. not too summery and light, but with just the right overtones of summery and light...a bit of lemon, some bergamot. it will give you glimpses of summer without the direct heat of the sun. underneath, there's still some interesting darker patchouli and neroli going on. it's the perfect scent for this changeable time of year--cold and blustery one day, sunny and springlike the next. i don't really know what that has to do with brazil, not having been there, but admit that from the name, i expected it to be a bit more flamboyant, suntanned and well, half-naked with a feather headdress.  so i find it rather misnamed, tho' i don't really have an alternative in mind.

i did a bit of research and learned that this scent is a "travel exclusive," which means you'll only find it in the duty free of your favorite international airport and possibly in some onboard sales catalogs, not at your local estee lauder counter.  that explains as well the packaging, which is a nice flat bottle that tucks perfectly into your makeup bag. that was another selling point for me, since i travel a lot.

the perfume has a brightness i needed at the close of winter, but still has a heavier presence that lasts. i don't think i'll wear it into the summer.  it has a powdery fade that will seem too heavy then, but i really like it for now. and embarking on something new (like a new job) always requires a new scent. that's like a rule, right?

EDIT:  i should have noted that this is a really new perfume. it was just released in february.

perfume review: tom ford white patchouli

i know i've mentioned it before, but i'm a perfume junkie. i thought i'd try to spread my perfume junkie ways by giving you review of some of my faves. so today, i'll do tom ford's white patchouli, which has been my primary perfume of choice this winter.

i acquired this one right before christmas. it seemed perfect for the holiday season because it's warm and spicy with the just the right undertone of smoky, rich patchouli that leaves you feeling wrapped in a richly embroidered indian shawl. it's not super feminine and definitely has a manly side to it, i actually think husband could comfortably wear it, not that he has. he's on mont blanc's individuel at the moment and he's got a habit of sticking with one 'til it's gone (silly men).

at first spray, i found the white patchouli to be a bit heavy and would class it in the same family as the old classic yves st. laurent opium, but that heavy, cloying sweetness fades almost immediately, leaving a lighter fresher (if that's possible) smokiness that i love. in fact, my main complaint would be that white patchouli generally fades a bit too quickly and it's definitely gone by the end of the day. but that could be my chemistry, i've seen some other reviews around that suggest it has great staying power. but, perfumes react differently with different chemistry.

i've been using this one pretty consistently since i got it in mid-december. it's a very good winter scent. it's plush, warming and goes well with a steaming mug of chai. in fact, it has some of the same notes as a good chai--a bit of coriander seed and a hint of cardamon. it feels sophisticated and luxurious and a bit like you should be wearing black when you've got it on (despite having white in the name). i think my use will taper off as spring approaches and i've already turned to hermes un jardin sur le nil on a couple of occasions to get that greenness i long for into my day. but, i'd advise you to keep the tom ford in mind next fall when you're getting your sweaters and tights out again, it will envelop you with its slightly mysterious, spicy goodness throughout the cold months.

give it a try next time you pass a perfume counter.