Making Sense of Scents: A Review by Perfumer Lyn Ayre

A review by perfumer Lyn Ayre 18 September, 2008 Purrfumery profiles – Velvet and Sweet Pea’s have shared their samples with me and here’s what I smelled... Narcissus Poeticus opens with a pungent animalic scent that quickly dries down to the earthy aromas of a love nest. Very unique. I detect some Osmanthus and possibly some myrrh. Still evolving at the one-hour mark. 2 hours later-scent has faded. Jasmine Dawn & Dusk is fruity, jammy, jasmine at its best. It’s ascent from my wrist to my nose is speedy and constant. There’s a soft powdery note in the background and bright springtime notes in the foreground. Still evolving at the one-hour mark. 2 hours later-scent is still there. Fading at 3 hours. Jewellery of Heaven is very floral and sweet. This scent draws me in and makes me want to keep inhaling its heavenly aroma. Wonderful. I detect palma rosa, rosewood or possibly jamarosa – a sharp penetrating top note. Still evolving at the one-hour mark. 2 hours later-scent is still there and wafting up to my nose. Three hours later, still going strong. Finishes very powdery on me. Honey is amazing. Diffuses nicely, lasts a long time. I love this perfume. It ends up being very sweet and floral on my skin. Still evolving at the one-hour mark. 2 hours later-scent is still there and wafting up to my nose. Three hours later, still going strong. Four hours, very soft now. Gardenia is not overpowering like the live plant rather pleasingly heady, floral, sweet, and definitely Gardenia. I like it very much. Still evolving at the one-hour mark. 2 hours later-scent is still there and wafting up to my nose. Three hours later, still going strong. Four hours, very soft now. Songbird is wonderful. I would choose this perfume. I detect cinnamon, vanilla, and orange… almost edible… like a fresh bright tasty creamsicle. Yummmm. Still evolving at the one-hour mark, 2 hours later-scent is still there and wafting up to my nose. Three hours later, still going strong. Four hours, very soft now. Terrain Cologne is fresh and clean. I detect perhaps blood orange, geranium, frankincense… still evolving at the one-hour mark. 2 hours later-scent has faded I truly enjoyed this foray into the furrows of the perfume feline. Laurie Stern is a true perfumer, crafter, and skilled artisan. Over the last couple of years, I have smelled dozens of perfume samples from other natural perfumers but none has topped these. Her accords are tightly mastered and thrilling to my olfactory organs. Thank you so very much for sharing your amazing gift, Laurie.