Ethere

Sometimes a cheap but cheerful fragrance reveals its own stroke of genius, testament to the fact that it doesn't always require expensive, natural ingredients and a luxury price tag for a fragrance to be thought-provoking and appealing to the nose. Éthéré, for which a 50ml can be had in the US for under twenty dollars, features a translucent chamomile tea note that sets it apart from the myriad fruity florals that were de rigueur in the 90s. While it has that sunny disposition, the chamomile note, reminiscent to me of the Moroccan chamomile variety (Cladanthus mixtus), often called wild chamomile, feels bright, apple cider-like, yet more floral than its aster cousins of the blue/German and Roman variety. I don't want to say that natural oil is used here (how likely could that really be?), but the effect is felt for sure. Its opening may be a bit of a shock, challenging to a nose who expects a more rounded entrance, but I find it quite stimulating, and actually evocative of smelling pure chamomile oil; whether that's deliberate or not is definitely up for debate—it could just be the budget. It also reminds of celery seed in the early stages, a crunchy watery green. After the top, the chamomile is punctuated by a tea accord, and an overall aqueous nature, with hints of watercolor violet ionones. Soft florals almost levitate in the heart, including mimosa and far away jasmine. This is aptly named, feeling weightless yet substantive. The chamomile merges with amber in the closing stages, revealing more pineapple-like facets, eventually feeling like a cordial distilled from its blooms. A rose note somehow pushes through in the late stages as well. This one is fascinating and quite an enjoyable wear for me, but it would require an open mind and setting aside prejudices about cheapies. If we were to ignore that fact, it could easily pass as an evocative niche scent (which may probably spend the same amount on materials and production!). Plus the bottle is really something else.

This invigorating green tea herbal caffeinated blend hits it out of the park for me. It is 100% unique to my nose and it not only pleases me as the wearer, but it garners compliments from strangers in the wild. And then as if it needs anything more to draw me in, it is enshrouded in the most gorgeous Lalique-inspired figural frosted glass bottle with a liquid the color of a bright mint julep and all that at a price of $23 on Amazon. I thought it would be interesting to layer Ethere with 5th Avenue by Elizabeth Arden, and the result was a dupe for Liz Claiborne! Vicky's other fragrance 'Sirene' is only $19.44 on Amazon which I just ordered, so even if it is repulsive I have another gorgeous bottle with ballet pink liquid inside.

I may agree that it came out like a little autum storm, but give it time it slows down. And in my oppinion it ́s harmonic, feminine and a class I didn ́t thought. Newbee, as I am. But i ́ve learned as well as they have problems, knowing easy marks to us of course natuarlly perfumhouses that are big, Ihave read about such perfermeries, now. Big and popular . I wonder like the "sirenes" buyer, is it big different in scense. Now I ́m go and read about Vikcy von Tiel, hear her story,. I ́m looking forward it very much !

So I don't know whether it's boredom or curiosity or probably a mixture of both but I have been trying out some lesser reviewed affordable fragrances lately, even if the reviews have been less than stellar. For some reason I keep trying these "green" herbal fragrances trying to like one of them and really I guess I have to admit that I am not a fan of them. So many of them come off as bitter, short lived and meh. But Ethere has a beautiful bottle and I have not tried any Vicky Tiel fragrances before and well, come on, 1.7 oz for $8.00?! I'm game! The bottle is literally a work of art! Beautiful and unique. The first spray is intensely bitter with that old familiar "green note" that I detest. My first thought was UGGH! Portfolio Green by Perry Ellis, so bitter and fleeting! But where Portfolio Green is bitter, fleeting and uninteresting, Ethere is much more complex and lasting. Ethere takes you on quite a ride! Yes at first you get that feeling to head over to the sink and scrub...but.. just WAIT! I am getting the celery seed note and that is bitter, but if you wait you should smell some of the florals come through eventually. Now the florals are not strong and they never will be throughout the wearing of Ethere, but in the end you do have a herbal, floral wearable fragrance. While I do not consider this a successful blind buy I have definitely bought worse and if you are a person who has curiosity about unique fragrances this is definitely well worth around $10 to try! Happy sniffing!

This is celery seed all the way the first 30 minutes. Then it calms down a bit, something green but not really floral except for water lily and lily - which are both sharp - and there is definitely musk and amber which make it pretty complex. Ethere is not for everyone! It is just a little like Coriandre. I really like it. It dries down to a green scent on me, and is very fresh and different. It also is long lasting. I would recommend Ethere for the bottle alone, which is just gorgeous and fun, but the fragrance is really an interesting green/amber/musk combination. This is definitely not your almost pure alcohol floral celebrity fragrance. It is maybe a little like Chanel No. 19, but I may be wrong on that as it has been so long since I've used No. 19.