Perfume Reviews

Shelter Island by Bond No. 9

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Shelter Island is one of the summer fragrance entries from Bond No. 9 New York. One, which goes more into the aquatic camp, with its use of seaweed. It was released in 2014.

I bought a sample of this a while ago, for testing and to see how I actually got along with a that marine note, that I generally dislike. How does Shelter Island smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Shelter Island by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, black pepper, seaweed, lily, oud, musk, sandalwood, amber, myrrh

Click here to try: Shelter Island

shelter bond review

My Full Review

Here’s how Bond describes it: quietly daring, sparkling-clean, unisex, rife with nonchalant beach-time exotica.

Shelter Island opens fresh and bright with a spiciness via the black pepper. The lemon is a light spritzing on top of the marine accord that features seaweed.

The aquatic aspect isn’t overpowering here. Sure, it’s dominant, but balanced out by its surrounding notes. I’m glad I didn’t get a massive seaweed note, that makes you smell like some sort of marine life.

The lily will come in with its waxy aroma, which pairs with the emergence of the resinous myrrh and amber notes in the base. These three, really seem to keep the seaweed in check, and don’t allow this to be just a salty oceanic fragrance.

The lemon and black pepper basically fade completely. This is an aquatic and beachy oud-floral in the middle. Starting to get musky and taking on a bit of a sun tan lotion scent. At this point, it’s more like sitting by the shore than being in the water itself.

That will continue, as this becomes woodier and muskier in the dry down.

Still somewhat aquatic, with a mix of the woodsy notes, a musky aroma, and that amber and myrrh still a bit detectable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This Bond fragrance opens up with plenty of initial punch. It’ll leave a slight scent trail and project well enough off of the skin. It’s definitely above average in the first hour or so.

Thereafter, Shelter will be much more moderate, before lightening up in the back half of the wear.

While it isn’t a massively projecting nor heavy sitting fragrance, Shelter Island does a good job at sticking around. On my skin, I can still detect it up to about 9 hours. Which is plenty for what most people are going to use this scent for.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear. Mainly, for the warmest days. A good change of pace from the pure citrus perfumes which usually inhabit those months. A solid marine and wood aquatic for something different.

This is a unisex fragrance, maybe leaning slightly masculine, in the early stages. But, that will balance out, as you move further into the wear.

It’s a niche and fairly casual fragrance for daytime wear. Shelter Island isn’t going to be one that you’re very likely to wear for dates, nightlife, or formal occasions. For those outdoor summer events, it can be a fine choice.

Overall Impressions of Shelter Island

Overall, do I like Shelter Island? It’s pretty good. I never thought that I’d be the target audience for this Bond No. 9, once I saw the seaweed and oud notes together.

However, I was sort of surprised that I wasn’t indifferent towards Shelter Island, and that it had its enjoyable moments for me.

The seaweed, really came through here. It’s front and center, but doesn’t overpower everything else. Very fresh and marine done right, where so many other scents with this note have fallen flat.

The longevity is also great, especially for a summertime scent. Sure, it’s not a massive beast of a fragrance, but this one doesn’t quit early on you either.

The downside? Well, the price for the largest bottle, is currently $300 as of writing. As such, Shelter Island probably isn’t a perfume that most are going to want to buy on a whim.

If you want a beachy aquatic with sun tan lotion vibes, this Bond does a good job at hitting the mark. Find a way to get a sample of this stuff, if that sounds like something you’re after.

Black Opium Le Parfum by YSL

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Black Opium Le Parfum was one of the two Black Opium flanker releases in 2022, along with Illicit Green. This is one that I’d heard good things about, but hadn’t gotten to test it out. So, I bought a sample in order to put this YSL through its paces.

How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Black Opium Le Parfum worth a try?

What does Black Opium Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, cinnamon, green mandarin, jasmine, orange blossom, solar notes, vanilla, coffee, and patchouli

Click here to try: Black Opium Le Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: an unexpected high rush, exalted with a quartet of vanillas. Its iconic coffee accord associated with white flowers amplifies an ultra-sensual and audacious femininity. This new creation transforms the original signature into an ultimate pleasure.

The opening of Le Parfum is already sweet, with the vanilla being very present at the start. It does have a ‘quartet’ of vanilla notes, so, that’s understandable.

But, early on I get a good deal of cinnamon in the mix. Much lighter on the green mandarin here versus Illicit Green, and even not too much of a pear influence.

With that cinnamon, the vanilla, coffee, and general warmth this does have a coffee drink sort of vibe and not just beans. With that, the coffee note is diluted and isn’t as strong overall.

To me, this is much smoother and less messy than the original Black Opium EDP.

I’ve also seen Le Parfum get compared to Vanilla 28 by Kayali. Not really the same. That’s more linear, thinner, and has that brown sugar note which sets it apart from this. Plus, it lacks the same level of spice that is present with the cinnamon.

That spice, will relent as we move along. The usual jasmine and orange flower floral heart will begin to emerge, but never fully overtake anything. It’s still a warm/sweet/spicy blend of the vanilla and coffee notes. Just, with a light blend of floral notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Black Opium Le Parfum is strong for an hour or two. Well above what you get with most of the others in this series.

Le Parfum will leave a scent trail in your wake for sure and it can seemingly project up to a 7-9 foot radius, at least initially.

Thereafter, it’s pretty moderate, but noticeable. I did test this once side by side with Illicit Green, and Le Parfum, was the only one that I could smell between them.

On my skin, Le Parfum sticks around close to nine hours. Somewhere in the 8-9 range, with maybe a touch of it still lingering for a short time thereafter. The performance is quite good, but not elite.

Seasonally, Le Parfum stays in the autumn and winter mode. Not going to be one that holds up all that well in the heat and humidity of the late spring and summer months.

This is still very much a Black Opium scent. Still has its sweetness, not very formal, etc. Though, it is somewhat more mature and has a decent versatility to it.

This one would be great casually, one to wear out at night, etc. You can also wear it to school or certain workplace environments. That’s going to have to be your own call, however.

Overall Impressions of Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Le Parfum? I do. To me, it’s the best of the Black Opium lineup. I have yet to try Extreme, have the others, and Le Parfum out does them all.

I really do like that opening hour or so. Not only do you get the power, but also, the spiciness and warmth is really quite captivating. It’s still very good after that, but I like the coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon together.

If you don’t like the original Black Opium, you might not like this one. However, I do think it’s more tolerable in comparison, and less likely to get annoying like that can for some people.

Though, Le Parfum is no guarantee to change your mind about this series.

It does still have that heavier sillage, so, Illicit Green might be a better fit, if that was one of your bigger problems with Black Opium.

If you do like other Black Opium releases, I think that you should definitely try Le Parfum out. It obviously has similarities with the original EDP and others, but it stands out as being a slight notch above the rest of them.

Black Opium Illicit Green by YSL

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Illicit Green is a Black Opium flanker that was released in 2022. I bought a sample of it recently, to try it out again, after having encountered it twice before. This time, I wanted it for a full review.

How does it smell? Does it last long? How does the YSL compare to the original Black Opium and others?

What does Black Opium Illicit Green Smell Like?

Notes include: green mandarin, coffee, vanilla, pear, fig leaf, fig, orange blossom, jasmine, patchouli

Click here to try: Black Opium Illicit Green

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: The sensual addiction of black coffee gets multiplied by a pulpy and creamy fig. An unexpected and long lasting shot of energy, awaken by the zest of a green mandarin. The new Black Opium eau de parfum Illicit Green is a bold and delicious creation for a luscious femininity. 

Illicit Green starts out lighter and cleaner, in my opinion, versus the original Black Opium EDP. With that, the opening has always felt pretty messy, especially compared to this.

Here, I get the green mandarin note, some of the pear. But, what really comes through from the jump is the fig/fig leaf. This opens greenish, somewhat fruity, with plenty of the coffee note already peaking through.

Really, the pear and mandarin are adding a sparkling brightness to the mix and some sweetness. However, those two note are never particularly massive on my skin.

I dig its freshness and its less heavy and cloying than many of the others in this Saint Laurent series.

As we move along, the fruitiness that is there will tone down. You will get more of the vanilla and coffee that the original has. For me, the coffee is the stronger of the two throughout.

That, with: fig, jasmine, orange blossom and some patchouli.

The final dry down is a light coffee aroma, with the vanilla, and what’s left of that fig and jasmine note. Kind of sweet, soft, with a bit of a powdery feel to it all.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Illicit Green has a pretty good start, with how it projects and the trail it can leave behind. That first hour, it is very noticeable to me, while wearing. Spraying it on a shirt, I can still smell Green from 5-7 feet away.

It’s a lighter to moderate scent, that isn’t going to bog down on you. I have sprayed it alongside, Le Parfum, and that Black Opium flanker easily overtook this one in terms of what I could smell.

The longevity is pretty mid. 4-6 hours of wear, on my skin. I cannot seem to get Illicit Green to go beyond that range. Maybe that’s not too much of a problem, if you don’t overpay for this perfume.

Seasonally, even with its softer appeal, Illicit Green still isn’t built for summer. Autumn through springtime, it might come across as too much with the heat and humidity. But, a good deal of versatility otherwise.

Illicit Green isn’t a formal fragrance, nor is it a ‘club beast’. It’s attractive and the cleaner vibe with this can make it better able to fit into situations that the original and others might not.

Overall Impressions of Illicit Green 

Overall, do I like Illicit Green? I do. Out of the series, it reminds me most of Neon. Both of these perfumes are lighter, but Illicit has the fig note and less orange blossom. I would choose this one over Neon.

It’s also better than: Nuit Blanche and Intense

I like that mandarin and fig-laden start. A good blend of sweet, greenish, and enough of that Black Opium DNA to stay on brand with it.

The dry down is good. Nothing that truly stands out, but a softer rehash of the others from this YSL line.

One complaint that I do have, is with the performance. It is a lighter fragrance, but the longevity, really isn’t where it should be. 4-6 hours is pretty mediocre, whether or not I enjoy the scent.

If you find a lot of the Black Opium flankers to be too heavy, this would then, be my first pick out of the bunch. Though, if you really didn’t like any of them, I’m not sure that this would change your mind.

Aqua Allegoria Pera Granita by Guerlain

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Pera Granita is a release which is a part of the Aqua Allegoria series by Guerlain. It’s one that I’ve already tried and enjoyed before, but I decided to buy another sample, in order to write up a full review. It came out in 2016. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Pera Granita Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, grapefruit, apricot, lemon, bergamot, musk, orange blossom, osmanthus, hedione, cedar, moss

Click here to try: Pera Granita

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: Savour a granita in the shade of the pear trees in the garden of the Hesperides, then gather their fruity treasures.

Pera Granita starts off with an explosion of its citrus and other fruity notes. Early on, you’re going to get plenty of lemon, sour bergamot, and the grapefruit coming through. Yes, the pear will be there throughout, it’s just overshadowed in the beginning.

Add to all of that, some osmanthus, which gives off it’s own sweet fruity sort of aroma as a floral note. Lots of sweet, sour, and sharpness happening in these early stages.

The next phase is fresher rather than sweet and sour. Some of the citrus notes burn off, which gives more play to the pear note. However, it is also going to share the stage with an array of floral notes and musk.

Actually, the grapefruit stands out on my skin, as it seems most of the burn off is from the lemon and bergamot notes.

The jasmine (hedione) and musk create a clean and somewhat shampoo-like vibe in the middle act. Add the freshness of cedar, sparkling water effect of pear, and the citrusy aroma…and Pera Granita really starts to give off the cleanliness.

The back half of this one is a fruit/musk/floral mix. The jasmine, orange blossom, osmanthus aren’t really sticking out as individual notes. More of a generic floral aroma.

It’s fresh with musk and wood at the base, a bit green, some light spice, and the fruits still jockeying for position.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Pera Granita opens up with a moderate strength. It’s fruity notes, definitely have reach in the early stages, and will be noticed from more than 7 feet away from where you sprayed.

As it moves along, this Aqua Allegoria fragrance will be much more of a lighter moderate scent, until it begins to disappear.

On my skin, it’ll last for 6-7 hours, with those last few hours not being particularly powerful. However, Pera Granita is for sure still present.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime wear, all the way. A great one to wear outside, relaxing around, or other daily wear functions during this stretch of time.

It’s an upbeat and clean one to wear in the daytime. Not going to be a sexy nightlife wear or one that is super formal. Though, you’ll still get plenty of use out of Pera Granita, even without the nighttime functions.

Overall Impressions of Pera Granita

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do.

The freshness, the mix of sweet, sour, pear, and floral notes. The energy of it and how it has some depth for a summertime wear. It’s an Aqua Allegoria perfume that I enjoy quite a bit.

The performance itself is pretty mid. It’s not awful on me, but I wouldn’t expect a marathon wear or super beastly performance out of Pera Granita. 7 hours, on the high end, with  the last few being skin scent territory. Fair enough.

Still, this is one of my favorite pear perfumes that I have tried. It’s not completely dominated by that note, but I like how it stands out within the mix.

Pera Granita is a very good warm weather option for those who enjoy this style of fragrance. Definitely worth trying out. But, with how pricey it can be, maybe not a perfume that you’d want to blind buy.

Also, if it doesn’t sound like something that’d fit your style, I don’t think it’d do anything to change that fact.

Libre L’Absolu Platine by YSL

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Libre L’Absolu Platine is the latest version of this YSL line for 2023. I really hadn’t heard about it, but I saw an ad with Dua Lipa, and so ordered a sample of this a few weeks back. I’ve been testing this one out, to see how it stacks up versus other entries in the Libre series. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is L’Absolu Platine worth a buy?

What does Libre L’Absolu Platine Smell Like?

Notes include: citrus, lavender, orange blossom, white lavender, vanilla, amber

Click here to try: Libre L’Absolu Platine

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: The iconic structure of Libre, a tension between cool Diva lavender heart from France, crafted for Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and sensual orange blossom absolute from Morocco, reinterpreted in vibrantly metallic way. A juice with an exclusive concentration within the Libre range, enriched with a unique aromatic white lavender accord fashion by the master perfumers.

L’Absolut Platine starts off with cold and slightly metallic aldehydes coming through. Citrus, lavender, and orange blossom are all in the mix from the start.

It sort of reminds me of the beginning of Soleil Neige by Tom Ford. That one is a snowy cold with citrus and orange blossom. Platine is a metallic cold with an additional lavender note. Oh, this one is much more influenced by the classic aldehyde floral perfumes of the past.

Early, the orange blossom strikes me as being slightly stronger in the mix. That will quickly reverse and this one will have its various lavender notes coming in to dominate the blend.

I do like this cold and refreshing start. It’s pretty captivating, in that first hour or so.

After that, the lavender really comes into its own. That feature note, with the orange blossom still sticking around, and Platine smells a lot like the original Libre. Different, but strong similarities.

To my nose, L’Absolu Platine has less of the vanilla in the dry down. It is there, but not as much as what I got with Libre. Plus, the aldehydes still give this one a chilled brightness versus the original. Sort of soapy clean.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

L’Absolu Platine does start off very strong, with a powerful projection and a nice cloud around you, as you go about your day. Quite in line with what you get from the rest of the series.

However, I don’t think it maintains it’s strength as well as Libre or Intense. This YSL is a tad weaker than its predecessors.

The longevity here is somewhere in the 7-8 hour range, on me. On a t-shirt, this is like most everything else, and will go forever.

I do find it to be a step below both Libre and Libre Intense, in terms of its performance. Not bad, by any means, but both of those were great for mainstream designer perfumes.

Seasonally, autumn through mid-spring would be best for L’Absolu Platine. It’s a bit much for the summer months, but I like it in the cooler temperatures that I’m experiencing right now.

It is like Libre in its use cases. Daytime wear that can transition into evening. Has an attractive quality, not sexy, and isn’t a nightclub sort of scent. But, can be a signature or daily wear for many people.

So, L’Absolu Platine is a pretty darn unisex fragrance. Seriously, if you’re someone who though Libre EDP was ‘masculine’ this might seem even further in that direction.

Personally, I think the use of aldehydes keeps it more in the middle, but I can see how some who like more standard ‘girly’ perfumes might be put off by this.

Overall Impressions of L’Absolu Platine

Overall, do I like Libre L’Absolu Platine? I do like it more than Libre, but less than Libre Intense. I have a Le Parfum review to finish, but I’m not sure that Platine passes that one either.

I do think the start is interesting and it’s the highlight for me. I like that chilly and metallic sort of aroma that I get with the citrus and emergent floral notes.

The rest of the way, has a lot of the DNA of the original with a boosted lavender note and the remaining aldehydes helping to set it apart.

That being said, I’m not sure that you need this one, if you already have Libre. I think it’s at a higher price point too, so, no real need unless you’re a collector.

For others, I think that it is worth trying, especially if you’re a lavender fan. It’s a somewhat different take and one that I enjoy more than Libre EDP.

L’Absolu Platine isn’t one that I’d recommend on a blind buy. More of a test and see if you vibe with it.