5 Fragrances for Winter 2014

5 Fragrances for Winter 2014:

Melbourne by William Watt

It is currently getting close towards the end of winter down here in Melbourne, so I thought I better do a post while the season lasts ! Winter is my least favourite season ... I will even go as far as saying that I hate it, I'm more of a shorts and T-shirt kind of guy. However when it comes to the world of fragrances and the choices available I think winter is one of the best seasons, you have more options and variety for perfumes compared to summer.

During those cooler months of winter where we are restricted to being mostly indoors and surrounded by endless hours of grey skies, it's always fun to research fragrances and ordering samples to try them which is exactly what I did this winter. I will be posting here a recap of the top 5 fragrances I've been wearing for winter this year hopefully it might give you some ideas of new fragrances or fragrance line that you can discover + purchase this winter. Especially with a lot of my readers from the US and Europe where winter will soon be approaching, consider this post for specially written for you.

In winter you have access to a larger variety of perfumes as opposed to summer where the only ones that seems to be wearable without causing a headache are the lighter citrus-aquatic types. Personally I am not a fan of most citrus and aquatic perfumes as I find them to lack individuality and often resembles another scent, however there are always a few exceptions. During winter one can wear gourmands, heavy florals, oud, floral leathers, aromatics, spicy, woods, chypres etc without having to worry about offending those around nor giving them self a nausea, the choices are so much more diverse. Another reason why denser, heavier scents are popular in winter is because your body heat doesn't radiate as much as in summer therefore in order for a perfume to be detectable and last with limited body heat, it will need to be more concentrated.

What I've been wearing:

1) Tom Ford - Tobacco Vanille :
Ultra rich, opulent and intoxicating combination of gourmand creamy-vanilla and sweet-spicy tobacco. This one will definitely warm you up in winter and leave you smelling irresistibly delicious. It is part of Tom Ford's Private Blend line and can be found in Melbourne at Harrolds on Collins Street or at David Jones in Chadstone & Bourke Street. Lasts over 12 hours with strong silage throughout.

2) Vivienne Westwood - Let it Rock :
A caramel-like, oriental-gourmand cheapie that smells like 200 bucks. Another comfort fragrance that makes the wearer feel cozy and at home. Smells unique, very high quality with strong projection and longevity, comes in a beautiful elongated bottle which would cost you under $30 for a 50ml EDP. Nothing can go wrong! Be aware if you do not like patchouli, stay from this one as it contains a heavy patchouli note.

3) Chanel - Egoiste :
Classy and mature, a scent for a true gentleman. A luxurious sandalwood-tobacco fragrance, just enough woods and leather to keep the scent from being too cloying or feminine while the sweetness of this scent and it's floral heart remains noticeable without being too flamboyant. One of the classics of perfumery, definitely a gem to add to any man's collection. Excellent longevity with moderate silage, released in 1990 and still continues to be a strong seller.

4) Christian Dior - Addict (original) :
A rich, creamy and opaque concoction of vanilla, tonka bean, and white flowers. For some reason this scent just makes me think of Indian rich pudding......sweet and fragrant with a hint of spices. This scent has great performance in winter you can feel your self being wrapped in it's cashmere-like veil with each spray. Lasts throughout the day and projects excellently.

5) Robert Piguet - Fracas :
If you love heavy doses of white flowers then you'll definitely love Fracas... The most successful fragrance from Robert Piguet, Fracas is luxury inducing and is unmistakably potent. Fracas is a cauldron of  white flowers, notably sacchariferous tuberose, viscous jasmine and creamy gardenia
I highly recommend Fracas for anyone who loves strong white flowers, it's a great reference white floral.

Review: Jean Paul Gautier - Fragile (1999)

Jean Paul Gautier - Fragile (1999):

My new arrival "Jean Paul Gautier - Fragile"

The feeling of "Christmas comes early", that sudden boost of joy and excitement....That is the feeling I get every time the courier man turns into my drive way with his white van. This morning I received  a package containing a used bottle of Jean Paul Gautier's Fragile, which I have bought for a very cheap price on eBay. I have always wanted to add this fragrance to my collection for a very long time mainly due to it's breathtakingly stunning and exquisitely presented bottle.

My first memory of this scent goes way back to when it was first released in 1999, my aunt used to wear this fragrance on a regular basis and it did annoy a few people around her due to it's potent silage. She would wear this all year, even on scorching summer days, that is how much she loved this scent. Anyway, I love the way it smelt on her and the trail that it would leave as she walked pass different areas of the house. My aunt is a fragrance collector as well, as mentioned on my earlier post about my first perfume, and probably one of the main reason why I have so many fond memories in relation to perfumes, which eventually inspired me to become a collector my self.

Before I moved to Australia my grandmother had a gigantic house with a ridiculous amount of rooms, around 40 if not more, intended for all her children and grand children to stay together as a big giant family. I used to take regular visits to my aunt's bed room located on the 5th floor of the mansion, I remembered that climbing up those dark wooden stairs alone was a long and terrifying journey it self. Along the way to my destination I would have to confront series of elaborately carved hanging wall statues which my grandmother loved but they used to send shivers down my spine, especially at night. Finally once I have finally arrived at my aunt's room, she would let me sit and admire her magnificent and grand collection of perfumes ....... out of the 100's of bottles laid out along her perfume shelf, "Fragile" would always be the bottle which I seem to have noticed and remembered vividly for all these years.

Francis Kurkdjian

The fragrance was composed by the very famous, Francis Kurkdjian, and was released in 1999. The word "Fragile" can be seen printed on the box in a playful style, a signature of Gautier. The bottle it self is a work of art, and a very creative concept, a "Showgirl-esque" type of lady seductively dressed is centered inside a snow globe styled bottle filled with sparkling glitter entrapped and suspended by the golden liquid that is the perfume. A genius concept, with the glitters signifying a sort of celebration, applause, and spot light which focuses it's attention to the bewitching figure in black. Sort of suggests to the wearer that if you wear this perfume, all those attention could be on you, you will sure be noticed.

The Scent:

Jessica Rabbit by chronicbetchface
of Deviantart.com

Starts off very delicious and floral, intoxicating concoction of jasmine, rose , tuberose, neroli and citrus opens the show while the other notes are putting finishing touches to their costumes before they are due to perform. A sweet, floral, and delicious combination,very seductive and potent.

This perfume wears on to be less sharply citrus and floral as the gourmand base kicks in and take over the show, vanilla, star aniseed, cinnamon, became prominent while the presence of the floral opening still lingers on, as they refuse to be easily forgotten by it's audiences. For the finale, spotlights are on the Iris, Cedar wood, and musk, this trio adds a touch of sensual powderiness towards the overall feel of "Fragile".


Overall this perfume is gorgeous, feminine, and voluptuous. I am very disappointed that it got discontinued. Just the bottle alone is worth paying for and owning, it is just so stunningly beautiful. Lasts around 7 hours on my skin, with heavy silage for the first 3 hours and moderate from then onwards. A distinctively feminine perfume, I don't see any man being able to pull this off at all, unless you are very flamboyant and have an unorthodox style. Think of John Galliano, this would be something he could pull off. Highly recommended, a master piece from the house of Jean Paul Gautier.