I have customized my fragrance subscription from Scentbird so that I get 4 fragrance samples (a one-month purse spray) a year. You can get one scent of your choosing every month, two scents if you like, or you can buy your entire year’s list at once at a huge discount.
My past two choices have been winners for me. As I’ve mentioned many times before, I prefer oriental scents. Often I prefer gender-neutral oriental scents. Big, spicy fragrances are my jam.
By and large, my selections from Scentbird are blind buys that I discover on their website, usually by searching through all of their fragrances that are listed as “Spicy”. (You can search on other notes such as: Floral, Woody, etc.)
The two fragrances that I got over the past few months are:
- Berdoues Hoja de Cuba Eau de Parfum: gender-neutral, vetiver, allspice, tobacco, woody, mysterious, date night, fall, warm, refined
- Molinard Ambre Eau de Parfum: for women, geranium, musk, vanilla, clove, benzoin, woody, date night, winter, mysterious, strong.
Berdoues Hoja de Cuba
I was totally unfamiliar with this scent when I chose it, but I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like it. I have only had my Scentbird one month sample for a short time, but I have gone through half of the bottle.
Hoja de Cuba is a gender-neutral scent that would definitely work for men as well as women. It is a sophisticated scent that is rather mysterious. Although I typically dislike age-typing fragrance, in this case, I must: I don’t think that this would be a scent for young women.
The key notes are listed as vetiver, allspice and tobacco, but I don’t really smell the tobacco which is fine with me. Allspice is prevalent, especially during the opening. I thought it had rose or geranium because it has a slightly sharp floral note, but maybe that’s the vetiver. It’s a relatively strong fragrance, but I don’t find it overpowering. In fact, the dry down is quite soft and rather sweet, almost with a hint of vanilla.
Hoja de Cuba has a big opening, moderate projection/sillage and is moderate in terms of lastingness. Since everything has been fading quickly on me for about the last year, Hoja de Cuba stands out because it doesn’t disappear immediately. I would describe it as long lasting, yay!
I wear all scents that I like all year round, but many people might find Hoja de Cuba to be more appropriate for fall and winter and for nighttime wear.
If you like spicy oriental unisex scents, Berdoues Hoja de Cuba should probably be on your “to try” list.
Molinard Ambre
“Amber” is the cornerstone accord (a scent combined of several fragrance notes) of oriental fragrances. Amber doesn’t exist on its own. Instead, it is an accord made up of notes such as vanilla, labdanum (a resin from the shrub rockrose), and balsams like the resins benzoin and Tolu Balsam from tree bark and Tonka bean. Amber is a warm, cozy, vanilla-ish scent, and I adore scents with an amber accord.
Molinard Ambre is listed as a scent for women, but I think men could wear it as well.
Ambre was launched in 1993, so it’s been around for more than 25 years. It’s a classic, but somehow it wasn’t on my radar till now.
Top notes are orange, lavender, bergamot and lemon; middle notes are benzoin, incense and geranium; base notes are patchouli, musk and vanilla. Some people mention coriander, myrtle and thyme in the top notes, but I am not educated enough in scent notes to detect them. The warm, ambery, incense-like, and even powdery heart and base notes of this scent are where it’s at for me.
This is a moderate scent in terms of sillage and lastingness. I think it could definitely be worn to the office (back when people worked in offices!) or for an evening out.
Many people consider Molinard Ambre to be a fall and winter scent, but of course, I wear it anytime. I don’t consider it too heavy or strong for summer wear.
Final Thoughts
I’m a fragrance-aholic, for sure. But after all these years, I’m still enjoying Scentbird. It allows me to buy a large enough sample so that I can really tell if a scent is right for me or not. The Scentbird purse spray is large enough for me to determine if the fragrance will “take hold” on me and work with my body chemistry. For $14.95 for most of the scents, I think it’s well worth it. And I like that I can order as often or as infrequently as I like.
I am considering buying a full size bottle of Molinard Ambre because I have just about used up the one-month purse spray. You used to be able to buy full size bottles on Scentbird, I think, but I will hunt for the best price online at the discounted fragrance websites like FragranceX, FragranceNet, Fragrance Line, etc.
Do you wear fragrance? If so, what type of scents do you prefer?
I really want to try Molinard Ambre!
You should get a sample, Gabrielle! I checked the Perfumed Court and Luckyscent where I usually get my samples, and they don’t have it. I found 3 small samples sold together on eBay though. Or you could join Scentbird, order it and quit?
Allison you have to try NEST Fragrances. AMAZING! They are known for “Midnight Fleur” but my favorite is “Paradise” and “Black Tulip.” If you visit their website you can read about their different fragrances. I purchase some of them from QVC much better prices offered. Have a good day. 🙋🏻♀️😷🍷🌻
I wanted to love NEST fragrances, but sadly, they don’t suit me. I am in love with their packaging. Every time I used to go to Sephora, I would hit the NEST testers and try again but nope. I’m so glad that they suit you and you can enjoy them!! The set from QVC sounds fabulous xo
These both sound lovely, but Molinard Ambre sounds especially delectable!
Lola Seicento recently posted…Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
Love using Scentbird! You can try fragrances that would be a bit pricier to get as fullsized bottle!
If I wore fragrance I’d use this service. It gives you enough so you reall know what works for you yet the price is reasonable enough that you won’t get mad if you’ve made a mistake. These two sound great for you.
MarciaF recently posted…Ready for a Beach Break with KBShimmer polish?
My go to fragrance is Dior J’adore because why not? I used Scentbird for awhile and really enjoyed the scents that I tried. I dropped it back when I was trying to save some money but since I just dropped the Boxycharm Premium AND Boxycharm Base box I don’t see why I couldn’t get Scentbird back.
Cassie Tucker recently posted…Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip Remover
J’Adore has such a gorgeous bottle!