Mulholland

Mulholland is a fabulous aromatic that stays wonderfully close to the earth rather than being gone with the wind. The scent opens with a bright selection of citrus (maybe sweet orange and bergamot) without too much of a loud tang. The drydown delivers a feeling of subdued joy and perhaps a little bohemian spirit with its glowing amber, sandalwood and barely discernible, but complimentary patchouli. I don't however get any rebellious counterculture or psychedelia associated with historic Laurel Canyon/Mulholland Drive--this is a smooth, well behaved blend which could be dressed up or down. In any event, it's fresh, warm, radiant and modestly gratifying. I'll definitely be adding this to my collection.

I really didn’t like this one when I first smelled it. Maybe it’s because the sprayer delivered way too much, making the scent unbearably strong. In any case, it seemed sharp, loud, and full of unpleasant synthetic woody-aldehydic notes, so strong that it actually irritated my nose. It felt like I was huffing aroma chemicals straight from the bottle. I have to say that if it had been some celebrity scent instead of Keiko Mecheri I would have scrubbed immediately. However, I was curious to see how the scent developed, so I did the dog-panting-out-the-car-window breathing technique for a while, trying to put my nose in whatever position would provide as much fresh air as possible. I know a lot of people routinely spray themselves with much more than I did, and I’m probably the odd person out, but I really wish Luckyscent would put small samples like this in the regular sample vials, not sprayers. Not only do the sprayers malfunction all too often, they prevent those of us who like to err on the side of caution from dabbing unfamiliar scents in tolerable quantities. Once the initial atomic blast of top notes is over, Mulholland’s not bad at all. At some point it starts smelling like Earl Grey tea mixed with green tea and vanilla. The amber in the drydown is enjoyable, and much more in keeping with what I expect from Keiko Mecheri. I would have preferred the tea and amber straight, though, without the harsh citrus-woody beginning.

I like this precisely because it feels like a very casual and easy to wear scent. To me, it's starts out with a wonderful sparkle of citrus that has no harsh edges to it. It smells lighthanded and fresh and with a nice dash of sweetness that is not overly done at all. This then calms down to a sweeter amber and wood base. The patchouli is not strong. This is not overly complex, and it doesn't need to be. It's blended very smoothly, and the ingredients smell fresh and refined. I feel like it's a great scent to wear out for a weekend brunch or a nice afternoon trip. It reminds me of an uncomplicated sunny day, which would be great to wear in the sun... or in the cold because it reminds you of the sun! Also worth noting: the glass bottle is wonderfully elegant and feels good in the hand, like something from the golden age of Hollywood but also modern. The atomizer lets out an exceptionally fine mist.

Equal parts sweet citrus and woodsy amber, with a certain amount of warmth. Simple and no surprises. Not the picture of the landscape itself, but what you would be wearing in that landscape. Reminds me of Gypsy Water, but with more ease. More politeness and less of a statement: more happiness. One of those scents that you'll use more often than you think.

This smells like California--golden hills, dry chaparral, and tree-lined boulevards floating on a warm Southern California summer breeze...really nicely done! It starts out with a little bit of citrus, but mostly it's a medium-bodied woody amber. The sandalwood is very smooth. Mulholland really does remind me of LA--glamorous even when casual.