Drugstore Gems, Part #1

So yes. I fully admit the fact that despite my occasional 'fume snobbery, I have major love for some unlikely drugstore candidates. Many (if not all) of these Drugstore Gems have been reformulated at one point or another (what hasn't?) but for those of you who find yourselves out running errands at your local CVS (or SDM, for us Canadians :) hankering for a cheap thrill, look no further:


Drugstore Gem #1: Dana's Tabu




All Tabu images courtesy of www.danaclassics.com



Up until about a year ago, I wouldn't have touched this stuff with a ten foot pole. Everything about this scent was the absolute antithesis of what I considered wearable and confident. It was unbearably outdated to me. 
One sniff transported me to an older woman's dusty, cigarette smoke-infused, oriental rug-filled, depressingly empty estate home. When my high school boyfriend begged me to wear it for him, I recoiled. I may have wretched too.
(My preferred scent: Perry Ellis' 360. How times have changed...)

I managed to score a gift set of Tabu before this past holiday season. In it were the following: two violin dab bottles of EDC (one 30 ml, one 90 ml....the 30 ml alone would last 3 lifetimes) and the very coveted dusting powder. (I will fully admit that I bought this set primarily for the dusting powder. Dusting powders seem to be a rare find these days). I was also very intrigued by the option of having a sheer, veil-like Tabu option.

The current EDC opens up with heavy myrrh and old-school amber to my nose. After warming for a few minutes, jasmine, rose and musk emerge. This scent harkens back to a time when ladies dressed up to do their grocery shopping. There is a certain refinement to this fragrance that simply doesn't exist in present-day mainstream perfumery. The tiniest dab will do ya. I personally can't imagine wearing this one to my ('fragrance free') workplace, but would readily bust it out for a quiet dinner or night in.





The dusting powder is truly a fantastic find. If you snag some via gift set, and can get past the extremely bargain-basement packaging (cardboard and some off-centre lettering, different from the individually-sold option above) what is inside is worth discovering. A finely-milled, silky powder that imparts all of the best elements of Tabu without overwhelming oneself, or those around you.

I find this powder to infuse some much-needed decadence and comfort during these grey wintry days. I also think this one will get alot of wear during summer months, where the nature of the product itself (a cooling powder as opposed to a heavy amber-based perfume) and whispery scent will be welcomed.



Drugstore Gem #2: Alyssa Ashley Musk




Image courtesy of www.alyssaashley.com



A polar opposite to Tabu, Alyssa Ashley Musk was a staple in my mom's collection when I was a child. When we'd venture overseas to visit relatives, she would bring bottles of this stuff to give out as gifts. For those who are looking for a straight up, clean musk, look no further. The oil version is especially warm and skin-like and layers well under florals and orientals alike. Widely considered a feminine scent, I'd venture to say that it veers towards unisex. For those days when I'm at a loss as to what to wear, or am feeling headachy and somewhat perfume-intolerant, this is the one I reach for.

Looking at the graphic above, I admit that I'm a bit astonished as to how many layering options there are. I've seen the oil, EDT and lotion, but have been completely unaware of the 'super' moisturizing cream and EDP. More lemmings created in my world. (Because I clearly need more of those ;-)

What are your favourite guilty drugstore pleasures fellow perfumistas? Don't be ashamed to reveal them, your secret is safe with me. ;-)

A Tale of Two Ouds

Confession: I'm waiting for the ranks to come out of the woodwork and revoke my perfumista card. Why? For the simple fact that up until recently, I had not had the privilege of sampling an oud-based fragrance. I knew that it was one of the new 'hot' fragrance notes, heard a bit about it via messageboards and the like....

Until about 5 minutes ago, I had no idea what oud was. Let me enlighten you via Wikipedia:

Agarwood or oodh (or just agar) is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops^[1] trees (large evergreens native to southeast Asia) when they become infected with a type of mold. Prior to infection, the heartwood is relatively light and pale coloured; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin embedded heartwood. The resin embedded wood is commonly called gaharu, jinko, aloeswood, agarwood, or oud (not to be confused with 'Bakhoor') and is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes.

Perhaps I had sent some kind of subliminal messaging into the universe, imploring the perfume gods to permit me to sample something with oud in it, because within the span of a couple of weeks, two distinct fragrances fell into my lap. More fortunate I couldn't be.

The first is R'Oud Elements from the House of Kerosene.


Image courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/

Youtube fragrance reviewer Kerosene has decided to translate his love of scents into a series of his own creations. R'oud Elements, the first Kerosene launch, is described by its creator as 'An edp with notes of Oud, Sandalwood, Amber, Vanilla, Lavender, Iris and Orange Bitters. R'oud Elements has a smoldering oud opening that will tingle your nose hairs, then after about twenty minutes, settles down to a velvety oud and lightly spicy woody scent. Masculine and warm'.


From the manner of fragrance blending, to meticulous packaging, (the bottle is painted by Kerosene with automotive grade paint and clearcoat,) execution of the first Kerosene scent is clearly a labour of love.
Not one to shout his accomplishments from the rooftops, Kerosene has decided to quietly spread the word (and generous samples), to let his first creation speak for itself.


First spritz yields a blast of sandalwood to my untrained nose. The orange bitters emerge rather quickly with none of the sharpness of a typical citrus. After approximately 30 minutes, I can detect a distinct church incense note that stirs my senses. Must be the oud. I'd like to say that it's hidden, but it simply rides on the coattails of the vanilla, iris and lavender. The olfactory equivalent of a plush cashmere scarf, this 'masculine' scent is indeed warm, but I daresay, not exclusively for enjoyment by members of the male persuasion.





A very sharp contrast was the second fragrance that I received, via RAOK from the best swapper ever through Makeupalley: Montale's Black Aoud.
According to http://www.luckyscent.com/ Black Aoud's notes incorporate the following : Red rose, aoud, labdanum, and sandalwood.




Image courtesy of http://www.luckyscent.com/


I don't think I've ever had the opportunity to sample a scent that packs this much of a punch. This perfume had saturated the box and packaging that it was shipped in and had made its presence known even before I had opened it.


Upon testing this fragrance, the one resounding impression in my mind was that of darkness. I envisioned a resinous, stalagmite-dripped cave, laden with wet clay and earth. Oud and wilted flowers. The opaqueness of the bottle it is housed in tells its story well. More than a hint of raw sensuality. Wallflowers need not apply. I'd envision this one worn by someone on a mission of seduction. I doubt the intended would have the ability to say no.


I had wondered about this much talked-about, notorious fragrance note and the universe delivered. Two distinctly different scents with the incorporation of oud. Both unlike anything else, but so very different from one another.

If I were to offer some advice to a fellow perfumista who would love to sample an oud fragrance for the first time, (or one who had tried other ouds and found them too brash) my recommendation would lie with R'oud Elements. R'oud would also get a shout out to ladies who love to keep them guessing with a scent that veers towards the masculine.

For those who have no need to tone things down for the sake of their fragrance-adverse office mates, who are on a clear path to astonishment, the Montale would be an alternate choice. It's safe to say that I have never sampled anything that reminds me of either oud selection. Both stand on their own as olfactory masterpieces.