Serge Lutens Royaume des Lumieres Collection Review

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Henna

Dec. 23
I’ve been working my way through Serge Lutens’ new Royaume des Lumières collection, and my winner is Bois Roi d’Agalloche. Smoky powdery oud-patchouli is part challenging and part comforting for anyone who loves to smell different. The amber accord in here never lets the patchouli get too sweet and it’s like being near a cozy fire, after wrapping yourself up with a blanket pulled out of the cedar chest. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Sidi Bel-Abbes is the one that everyone talks about it. It’s also for the seasoned perfume wearer because it blends a funky oud with a funky musk. We’ve seen Lutens do this before, but this feels different, more nuanced and easier to wear. That said, it reminded me of the Cartier oud collection which is smooth and easy to wear, and shockingly comes out as being more affordable too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The rest weren’t ones I wanted to keep wearing but maybe others will find something compelling in them. Tarab is a rose-oud, a fragrance genre I’m yet to be wowed by. Zurafa is leather made soft with the addition of some iris, and finally Craceuse de Flammes, which is a sweet rose hardly more interesting than others that have come before it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The bottles are beautiful, inscribed with Arabic-inspired lettering, and no doubt appealing to the collector in all of us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Of course, a new Lutens collection always offers much to dissect and think about when it launches, and so today, even with thousands of launches, this one stands out as something to be experienced. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I know many of you have smelled some of these. Share your thoughts in the comments. ⠀

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Zoologist New Bottles vs. Old Bottles

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Henna

Old bottles vs. new Zoologist bottles – I get that change is hard but the new bottles aren’t terrible.  They have a magnetic cap and the name of the perfumer on the side of the bottle. I love that little detail because it is what makes Zoologist so unique.

Sacred Scarab bottle from IndieScents.com.

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Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur Perfume Review

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Henna

Dec. 23
Musc Ravageur! Seriously, nothing goes better with the scent of sweat than a cinnamon-spiced vanilla. In the midst of all the more savory gourmands that have been launched recently, this one seems a bit old-school but I’ll never get tired of wearing a spiced vanilla that appeals to both seasoned perfume lovers and newcomers. Sunny and effervescent, it’s the dusting of sugar I need in my day, the silver lining to any gloomy cloud.

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Zoologist Sacred Scarab Review

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Henna

Dec. 23
Imagine entering a sacred space encased in stone but with sunlight streaming in. A platter of fruit lies at the alter and the remnants of incense smoke hang in the air. You can feel the warmth of resins and of bodies that have been there before you. As you sit there contemplating everything that helped you get there, a cat slinks by, reminding you that you’re not alone. In fact, as you hear the rustle around you, you know that you’ve never been alone. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This is Sacred Scarab by Zoologist. The great thing about Zoologist is that the brand pairs with different perfumers, offering them a chance to create something that they might not have made for their own brands. In this case, the perfumer is Sultan Pasha, known for his attars and his collection of vintage perfume. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Maybe it’s because of this that Sacred Scarab feels so familiar – it begins by reminding us of perfumes we’ve known and finishes by reminding us of worlds we’ve lived in. There are aldehydes in the opening, for one, ot the clean aldehydes in today’s modern releases, but the aldehydes of the past. When I think of aldehydes, I think of Chanel No. 5, I can’t help it. There’s that twinkle in the eye, paired with a thick, warm fur. While No. 5 stays cold and aloof, Sacred Scarab has a warmth that beckons. Sacred Scareb is for anyone who has wanted the richness of a vintage perfume in a modern release. The opening is all aldehydic sparkle, powdery peachy lactones, a fading lily, and the distant purr of civet. Then, elements of the ancient Egyptian Kyphi incense, on which it’s based, come out: frankincense, benzoin, styrax, and labdanum, contrasting the old with the ancient, showing off the skill and aesthetic of the perfumer who dares to take us on this journey.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Sacred Scarab offers a reminder of the past. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

If you had your heart set on one of the older Zoologist bottles, there are still some remaining at IndieScents, including one of Sacred Scarab. Yes, they ship worldwide.

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Vintage Guerlain Nahema

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Henna

Feb, 4
Spending the day with an older, perfect version of Nahema today. It’s a plush, juicy rose, and unlike other types of perfume, wearing this type of almost-soliflore perfume takes me to a real memory, instead of a fantastical place. It’s me spending time with my grandmother, who didn’t smell like roses, but had an appreciation for beautiful things, the way that people of the past did. In a world where there are so many perfumes, so many options, so many different ways to smell, the beauty of Nahema is still unmatched. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Perfumes for Love

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Henna

Perfumes for LOVE. Indiescents now has a curation of perfumes to celebrate love, and packaged in a cute little discovery set so that you can try before you buy.

Feb. 4

The set has five indie perfumes, so you know you’ll smell like nobody else.

Francesca Bianchi’s The Lover’s Tale – leather, skin, and a dense powdery warmth.

Notes: Leather, Jasmine, Orris, Castoreum, Labdanum, Vetiver, Musk.

Ex Idolo Love & Crime is a cocoa and vanilla gourmand.Notes: Baking Sugar, Star Anise, Cocoa, Vanilla Sponge Cake

Sarah Baker The Gold Spot is for lovers of oud. It’s sweet and still challenging. Notes: oud, dark chocolate, musk, vanilla.

Lorenzo Pazzaglia Extreme Passion is about unexpected fruit, namely passionfruit, exotic and juicy.Notes: passionfruit, grape, peach, amber.

Jupilo Wine Vanilla – Instead of wine with your chocolate, try Wine Vanilla which is all about vanilla aged in the oak barrels of Burgundy wine.

Notes: Pear, Bergamot, Violet, Jasmine, Vanilla, Cedarwood, and Tonka Bean.

The sample set with 2ml samples of each perfume is $25, available at now, or get them in store.

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Cocoa and Vanilla Perfume Layering

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Henna

All things vanilla today, even though my body lotion says Almond on it (sadly, no almond scent in it at all, it just smells like vanilla), and the body oil gel is cocoa-scented – more cocoa vanilla to my nose. If you’re struggling with extra-dry skin this winter, my tip is to layer on a thicker moisturizer, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. The Vaseline Gel Oil is mineral oil you know and love mixed with a polymer that thickens it up into a gel. It makes it easier to use because it’s behaves like a lotion but it has all the benefits of the oil. Best used right after the shower, especially in cold and dry weather.

Feb, 4

The scent of the body lotion isn’t very strong (which is a good thing) so I’m layering my current favourite vanilla perfume on top: Jupilo’s Wine Vanilla. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Very little has been written about this Roman indie brand, but they’ve got some great perfume here. Wine Vanilla opens with citrus notes, tart and sulfuric, almost like grapefruit juice. As the perfume settles, a definite powdery feel emerges, a floral that reminds me of violet soap. The base is a soft, clean vanilla, rounded with a density that hints at a powdery benzoin and tolu balsam, but in the background, there’s also a fruitiness that reminds me of bubblegum. I like the sharp opening that blends into a warmer, fruity vanilla, and all of it would layer with any kind of scented lotion. ⠀⠀⠀

These last few months of winter lend themselves to a coziness rooted in hopefulness. There’s a lightness because spring is just around the corner, and maybe it’s possible to have hope, to wear something that reminds us of summer but also gives us a sense of comfort, which vanilla always does. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Jupilo Wine Vanilla from Indiescents.com. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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La Douleur Exquise by Les Abstraits Perfume Review

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Henna

Dec. 23
When we look at the greatest rose perfumes ever, La Douleur Exquise is going to be at the top of the list. Skanky, powdery, animalic rose, a rose for every vintage perfume-lover, for the romantic who laments that they just don’t make them like they used to. To those who are well-versed, this is a cross between Antaeus and Portrait of a Lady. Not as masculine as Antaeus, and not as spicy as Portrait of a Lady. Eau Capitale feels stripped back and basic, missing that weird element that keeps you coming back for more. You think you’ve smelled all the great roses out there but then this one comes along. If all the other roses are a portrait of love, this one is a portrait of lust.

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Le Labo Gaiac 10 – Toyko Exclusive

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Henna

Nov. 27
Quiet luxury in a bottle. Subdued but confident, not without a touch a smoke for some intrigue and mystery. The smoke and slight woodiness sits on a fresh cozy musk. It’s calm, polished, like approaching the desk of someone you respect because they’re always so put together. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This is a Tokyo exclusive, so of course, the scent is going to match the Japanese aesthetic of being quiet and easy to wear. The good news is that if you wanted something that is fairly safe to wear to work, this might be it, and it lasts longer on your clothes although you’ll still have to bury your nose into your sleeve if you want to catch a whiff of it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Gaiac 10 – the third Le Labo in my collection, and the 2nd one with my name on it. A worthy souvenir if you like the scent profile and want the memory of a trip. The perfect bedtime perfume, if that’s your thing. The Le Labo City Exclusives strike the right note on scarcity. You can get the perfumes at any time if you go to a city, and really, in big cities Le Labo stores are not hard to find, and once a year, you can order samples and make some plans. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Maria Candida Gentile Cinabre – A Spicy Rose Perfume

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Henna

Nov. 27
An opulent old-world rose crystallized in amber. Fresh, sparkly, but also so spicy. A zingy ginger, mouthwatering like a cinnamon heart, satisfying like ripping a Band-Aid off. A beautiful tale of excess. It’s not a gourmand, but it makes my mouth water. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Truly a unique and interesting perfume. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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