The Big Sniff Mk II

[UnnecessaryFennel]

After the success of the first Big Sniff earlier in the year, let's have another one!

This time around, we're going to try the Bloom Perfumery Greens in Perfume sample pack. Bloom is an independent perfumery in Covent Garden which is a treasure trove of unusual and 'niche' perfumes, so there's bound to be some interesting stuff to try.

This is what Bloom have to say about their Green edit:

'This edit and sample pack explore green nuances in perfume and materials that perfumers use to create it.

A perfume belongs to a green family if aromas such as green leaves, cut grass, cucumber, runner beans, green tea and so on dominate in the character. Green perfumes are much brighter, sharper and juicier than anything in the related aromatic (herbaceous) family and are not as woody as coniferous perfumes. However, some notes/materials such as basil, or pine span families revealing greener or woodier nuances depending on what else the perfumer chooses to put in the formula

The most straightforward green materials are: lentisque (mastic) and galbanum resins, green tea (real essence or an imaginary accord), green grass/ leaves accords (made with hexenal and other molecules which really relate to what grass/leaves emit when damaged or molecules that just smell similar), freesias, neroli, violet leaves and pine.'

The sample list is as follows:

1. The Soft Lawn (Imaginary Authors)

1. Aube Pashmina (Huitième Art)

1. Elephant (Zoologist)

1. Gardens of Temptation | Tenderness (Brocard)

1. Eau Simple de Concombre (Phaedon)

1. Panorama (Olfactive Studio)

1. PG24 Papyrus de Ciane (Parfumerie Générale)

1. Pure Azure (Phaedon)

1. Lentisque (Phaedon)

The cost is £15 plus £2.70 p&p in the UK (and they deliver within the rest of the EU as well). No discount on the pack this time around but if you're a new customer you'll get 5% off your next order.

Since it's a bank holiday week, it will probably be best to give people a bit more time to order and for packs to arrive, so let's start on Sunday 20th May.

So, order your pack, sign in here every Sunday and let's get sniffing!

I was excited to try this as love the scent of sweet pea. So far, about ten minutes in, I’m getting lily of the valley and not much else (and only if I press my nose against my wrist as there isn’t much projection). Hopefully it will evolve as the day progresses as I like what I can smell!

Yardley use to do a sweetpea, think it's been discontinued. Bronnley do one as well but don't know how it compares, slightly cheaper from a quick google.

As predicted the Brocard didn't last long on me but it was charming and appropriate for the time of year.

Gardens of Temptation: Tenderness - Brocard
On me this was a pretty spring floral with a strong lily of the valley and musk right up front. It lasted 3-4 hours. It is incredible value for money! I probably wouldn’t buy a full bottle as there are others from this house to explore and I found it a bit “in your face” with the musk.

I had to respray several times and even then it barely lasted a couple of hours, so for me even at £15 this wouldn't be worth buying. But I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it whilst it did last. Fresh, light, pretty floral, not my usual thing at all but very acceptable for spending the morning in a sunny garden!

I really like this one, for the fleeting time that it lasts.

I get predominant LOTV, a little musk and a little grass. It's a lovely, clean, summer scent. Something about it is a little vintage - in a good way.

As other posters have mentioned, I had to respray a couple of times. It barely lasted an hour on me. Even knowing this, I am very tempted to purchase - it's a great price.

I also really enjoyed this. It evolved into sweet pea for me but lasted only a couple of hours. However for the price I wouldn’t mind using it ‘body spray’ style so have added
It to the wish list.

Excited by today - I'm sure I'm going to find a Brocard or two that I love and can buy for next to nothing.

Don't think this is it though- nice but I don't think I'd reach for it too often. Good start for the greens though!

I'm in but like to start on a Monday.. loving this one, nice and light and Lilly of valley I love! Will let it develop a bit and report back later

oh wow, I LOVE this! I agree with PP, there is something kind of old fashioned about it but I really like it.

They better not all be this nice, it'll cost me a fortune!

I wore it today. Quite nice but pretty linear and not really me.

After my initial excitement, I'm very disappointed in this. When I squooshed it on properly I could only smell it if I held my wrist to my face and then only for half an hour or so. No lasting power in the slightest!

What a shame.

Which one are we trying next?

Right, tomorrow is Elephant by Zoologist.

Notes are:
top: green leaves, violet leaf
heart: sandalwood
base: amber, cocoa beans, coconut milk

I'm looking forward to this. I've tried a couple of the Zoologist line before and they are unusual and interesting scents. I love violet leaf, sandalwood and amber so am hoping for good things from this one!

Oh, I am excited about this. Loved all the Zoologists I've had so far.

First sniff of bottle before bed...ooh, not sure- but certainly don't want to sleep in it!

So first impressions of Elephant - very very green, quite harsh in the top notes, almost chypre-ish but not necessarily in a good way. Not getting any violet leaf. Will leave it for a while to settle but so far it's not an obvious 'like'.

Just sprayed. Lots of greenery. My Mum loves flower arranging and it reminds me of the smell when her club are preparing a display. Which suggests to me there must be some lily in here. I get just a touch of coconut milk as well. The other thing it reminds me of is the tropical section of the glasshouses in botanical gardens, which I guess is what they are going for although aren't elephants more on the grasslands than the forests?

As I typed that the very top note has reduced and I can begin to get the woods. For me there are lots of good memories associated with the notes here.

Hmm - I like so far - very, very green!

I like this.... very green: smells like flower stems when they’re cut and it’s so familiar. Enjoying it so far.

Ah, beautiful Elephant! 💕 When I visited Blooms a few months ago, Elephant was my final choice and I have a big bottle! 😍. It has the greenest of green top notes and I can also smell the violet leaf. There is a hint of floral, like flowers have been trampled by a herd of elephants. This stage lasts for a couple of hours. The gradually the greens soften and are joined by coconut and sandalwood. There is a bit of brightness around the scent at this stage, but I’m not sure what it is, the amber perhaps.

Soon after I sprayed on Elephant this morning, I went for a walk along an ex-railway line, canopied by trees and bordered either side with scrambled Queen Anne’s lace, nettles, ivy, tree shoots and assorted wild flowers and weeds. It had been raining heavily during the night so the green smells were rising up from the ground. I sniffed that and then my arms. I was just a more fragrant version!

I resprayed after a shower and, although I'm still not sure about those top notes, the drydown is certainly pretty good. Softer, quite floral but not overpowering; I can get the amber now.

All in all it doesn't really do it for me, though, but can't put my finger on exactly why not.

I really like the drydown -warm and comforting. I could be tempted to buy this.

Evening! Have been looking forward to this one!!

I liked it but doesn't seem half as green on me as it has been on some of you. I'd wear it again but if comparing to other Zoologists, Pandas still my favourite!

Loved this one- it developed beautifully and actually elicited a compliment from dh! Added to the FB list.