Theo Fennell Scent

*Wardrobe Mistress, You ROCK!* HOLY PERFUME, BATMAN! This is "perfume", of that I have no doubts, even in the 'eau de toilette' strength that Wardrobe Mistress sent me (in a very generous sample). Dabbed with the dipstick cap only, on the back of my hand, it smells as if I sprayed a full blast on! Wow! SCENT is an understatement. More like HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE to me! I imagine a new olfactive claasification for this baby: THIS is a spicy floriental chypre. Here, in Theo Fennell's remembrances of nightclub excesses and glamour, is the luxurious and elegant perfume of yesteryear: uncompromising and elegant at the same time. Rich and heady with flowers, and spices...and this is ALL in the first five minutes, mind you. Gorgeous feminine florals like lily, rose and orchid are warmed and spiced with sweet saffron and cardamom. Spice adds thickness, but not too much heat or anything remotely "curry-like". This does come on a bit "strong", almost brusque; but once it calms down it is like a true lady. Very creamy and lightly powdery as the caraway adds a dry sharpness and cinnamon makes it come alive. This is amazing! As TF Scent dries down, it is very oriental with labdanum (rockrose resin), tonka and benzoin keeping everything sweetly resiny and incensy (just the way I love 'em!). Sandalwood adds to this exotic affair, and somewhere (underneath it all) patchouli adds just enough skankiness to this unreal beauty to make her earthy and voluptuous, without seeming like a "tramp" or too much of a "good time" gal. She is rich, in every sense of the word. Full of life, full of "spice" (read: sassiness) and mysterious; I am at once mystified and enthralled. Sillage: Amazing! Longevity: Very good Overall: 4.75/5 This may be meant for women...but I know one thing for sure: I will wear this proudly, as it smells wonderful and has one of the most incensy drydowns I have ever smelled. Not smoky, mind you, but like real incense...flowers, spice,and sweet woods. Each and every layer of this is spices and flowers, flowers and spices and then a warm and wonderful base of timeless oriental indulgence-yet never is it sickening (to me). THIS is what Akasha (ancient Egyptian queen who was one of two most ancient vampires on Earth) would smell like as she passed you by...and with a scent like that: I'm a-followin!

Oh mama, this perfume is all grown up... I know we have many debates on Fragrantica about the 'age' or 'maturity' the wearer should be for certain perfumes, and I am usually to be found in the "age doesn't matter - if you love the perfume, wear it!" corner. However, I shall state again... *this* perfume is alllll grown up. By that I mean, to wear this with aplomb, to do this fragrance justice, you must have a little wiggle to your hips, know how to lick your lips, a certain smile in your eyes that says "I have lived a little, I know many things, I may choose to share them with you if I let you get that close." The opening blast - the very first sensation was of pink lemonade and baby shampoo. I know, hardly classy and sexy, but this is my honest first impression. It lasted only a few seconds, as on my next sniff, I was enraptured. The intoxicating smell of pollen-heavy lilies began wafting from my wrist, and I knew it would be love. After the lily comes a warm, all-enveloping, creamy cloud of orange blossom and jasmine with rose and spices elbowing for room - not sharply, but sliding through the crowds, smiling, always getting their own way. And then the cinnamon began, beautifully handled, softly mixed, completely addictive. Oh, and the saffron - incredibly, exquisitely blended, never dominating but always very present in the middle of the perfume's development. Oh, I adore it, I keep getting waves of a delicious scent lapping at my senses and wondering: "who smells so gorgeous? OH, it's ME!" Three hours in and I am at a stage that smells of juicy yellow plums infused with the rich saffron, a sprinkle of cinnamon, baked with rose petals and a dash of some exotic liqueur. Oh god, it's heavenly. My only regret is that I have the EDT - and now I must, must own the more powerful juice itself. You absolutely have to try this for yourself - it seems to have been transported from another age - one can certainly sense Theo Fennell's influences of stolen visits to impossibly chic Parisian nightclubs. There is a glitter of expensive jewels, the softness of fur stoles, the gleam of gold powder compacts and the deep red, unashamedly sexual slashes of lipstick surrounding this scent. Oh, Theo Fennell, I adore your perfume - if only I could afford your jewellery, too. Must. Have. More.

This review is for the EDP. I'll start by stating that this is a divine floriental fit for a QUEEN! My daughter gifted me with the EDP which she bought in London recently and WOW! I was already smitten with the EDT, which I have worn regularly the past couple of years, but the EDP is absolutely DIVINE!!! The EDP is exotic, seductive, and powerful, more so than the EDT, and I didn't think that was possible! Instead of the slightly soapy saffron found in the EDT, which I loved by the way, the saffron in the EDP is smoother, silkier and richer making this incredibly exquisite and dreamy. The rose, orchid and labdanum project more in the EDP as well. I do not get any sweat, or BO, or unwashed body smells from this at all. Both EDT and EDP are pleasant and gorgeous compositions. Also, there is no fennell in this composition (nor the EDT); the Fennell is referring to a name, not the fennell herb. Both the EDT and EDP are woody, creamy, spicy, deeply floral delights with just enough patchouli and civet to make them sexy and alluring, but I have to say I do prefer the EDP as it is even more BEWITCHING! I am instantly transported to royal life in medieval times, following the haunting aroma of TF's Scent throughout ancient corridors as I discover the secrets held within a mysterious castle. This EDP wears like those secrets being discovered as it keeps changing and captivating me, exuding sultry clues as it gives up a newly discovered secret within each stage. As I venture outside into the royal forest, I am mesmerized by a beautiful, teal blue smoke wafting in the air in front of me, beckoning me on to discover more secrets. Although, there is no smoky incense in this potion, I imagine if colors had smells, then a rich, magical, smokey, ethereal, tealish, peacock blue would smell like this! I am in LOVE!!!

Oooh La La - Sex on legs! Sweaty cumin (not caraway to my nose) and a raunchy musk, together with a swirl of opulent flowers, of which a sweet, jammy rose is most prominent, create the illusion of secret perfumed trysts. This has an almost vintage vibe, recalling those huge animalic perfumes of the early to mid 20th Century. I bought TF in both EDT and EDP for a ridiculously low price in TKMaxx. Obviously a flop then. I can see why - an initial blast of organic chemistry lab, perhaps the strange metallic saffron coupled with the rose, followed by sweat and knickers! I mean, it’s not your usual fruity-floral or gourmand and anyway, where on earth could you wear this thing? But if you want a Big Girl perfume, this is fantastic. I can tell no difference in strength between the EDT and EDP and they smell pretty similar. In the EDT, the musk is more prominent and so this feels more raunchy and less wearable in polite company. The EDP is softer, more spicy and rounded and you might be able to get away with wearing it without too many raised eyebrows! I can see why some compare it to Salome because of the musky animalic quality but TF is actually very floral and even pretty, whilst Salome feels, to me, a much rougher beast ( possibly due to a high proportion of naturals) and so less wearable. In fact the Hyrax in Salome is so overwhelming on my skin that I smell like a farmyard! Although it smells very different, in style TF reminds me more of the modern reformulation of Rochas Femme and also McQueen Kingdom, they all share a cumin note. In conclusion, Theo Fennell Scent is a beautiful, unusual and complex scent, somewhat vintage, definitely boudoir and one I enjoy wearing immensely.

This perfume is spectacularly good!!!! Not to overestimate my powers as an 'Influencer' (or influenza? Jesus I hate and reject that term and in no way feel I am that or whatever) but.... I kinda don't want me or anyone else to big this perfume up too much because there's a finite supply and it's such a bloody hidden gem of a thing. Chypre lovers with cream their respective undergarments over this turbo, powdery, peachy opening, and dirty urinal cake undercurrent, shimmering, lightly metallic, honied musk, body odour cumin (actually caraway apparently but very similar) of something like Rochas Femme, Akro Night, kingdom, or mostly the fantastic Salome by Papillon artisan perfumes. As fantastic as that particular perfume is, Theo Fennell is spectacularly better than that! It's smoother more refined, it's transitions are seamless and beautiful. After all the slightly naughty excitement of the opening couple of hours you're left with a really nice musky, powdery rose hip, with strong ambery apricot chypre. This perfume is fucking brilliant!!!!! It's not just a take on a classic theme, it's truly a ballsy innovative piece, timeless is what it is. Who is it by? you might ask, well Christophe Laudamiel and Domicile Bertier apparently and what a way to knock it straight out of the park for a brand which is apparently a Jeweler (Thanks Fliss) who makes some really innovative pieces and clearly had a precise vision for their one and only perfume which was a total flop, but will gain immortality with fragrance enthusiasts because this is a blinder of a perfume.