Under the Radar: Kristiansand New York- One Man One Bottle

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One of the frequent questions I get is from a man who doesn’t want to own a lot of colognes. He ideally wants a single bottle that is versatile enough for all occasions. Even someone like me for whom the idea of one bottle sends a chill down my spine can appreciate the request. I was recently reminded on Facebook of a great example of this style of perfume that debuted ten years ago, Kristiansand New York.

I met the co-founders Britt Hovde Ross and Elisabeth Steen both of whom are Norwegian. They wanted to make a perfume that would capture the dichotomy of Norway and New York City. Together with perfumer Pierre Constantin-Gueros they create something which reflects both inspirations.

Elisabeth Steen and Britt Hovde Ross

It begins in Norway with a back to nature top accord of sage and green pepper. It is that second ingredient which has made this stand out over the last ten years. M. Constantin-Gueros uses it to give a vegetal undertone to the stridency of the sage. There are a lot of herbal beginnings to colognes this is unlike most of them. It gets more recognizable with a lavender and cedar heart. This feels like the transition between sophisticated NYC and Norway with the slightly powdery lavender portraying the former and the cedar the latter. It goes full Big Apple with a white musk and amber base accord.

Kristiansand New York has 12-14 hour longevity and average sillage.

As I mentioned this is one of those extremely good choices for everything from office to gym to clubbing. It is also a nice choice if you want a good cologne that few others have. When I say this is Under the Radar it is deeply hidden. As far as I can tell it is for sale at only two places: the Kristiansand New York website and Beverly Hills Perfumery. It is a great choice for someone in the upcoming Holidays. Especially if you have one man who wants one bottle.

Disclosure: This review is based on a bottle I purchased.

–Mark Behnke

New Perfume Reviews Parfums Quartana Les Potions Fatales (Part 2)- Midnight Datura & Venetian Belladonna

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Continuing my reviews of the new Parfums Quartana Les Potions Fatales collection with Midnight Datura and Venetian Belladonna.

lisa-fleischmann

Lisa Fleischman

Midnight Datura is named after the genus of night blooming vines which are called moonflowers. Creative director Joseph Quartana collaborated with perfumer Lisa Fleischman on the most floral entry in this collection. Midnight Datura is a mixture of ten floral notes among the same number of supporting non-floral notes. There is another name for the moonflower called Devil’s Trumpet; Midnight Datura could easily be re-named Flower’s Trumpet.

When you have a perfume as densely constructed as Midnight Datura is; subtlety is left to the side. The opening moments are like opening a powder box and having it explode into the air. The early moments are intensely powdery. Your tolerance for that quality is what will make or break your desire to wear this. I am not the most ardent admirer of powdery florals in this concentration. This was the last one of the collection I tried because of that. It was much less incendiary on my skin as the powder softened somewhat but it still retained a lot of that. Ms. Fleischman has used all ten florals to create this. Eventually sandalwood, amber, and musk provide a foundation for the cloud of powder to settle upon.

Midnight Datura has 10-12 hour longevity and above average sillage.

Overall the Les Potions Fatales display their poisonous nature in differing ways. For Midnight Datura it is being consumed by a cloud of powder.

pierre-constantin-gueros-full

Pierre-Constantin Gueros

Venetian Belladonna was composed by perfumer Pierre-Constantin Gueros under Mr. Quartana’s creative direction. Belladonna was considered a “woman’s poison” as the wives of Roman emperors Augustus and Claudius used it to kill their husbands. It was also used as eye drops by women in historical societies because it would dilate the pupils which was seen as a desirable and sensuous effect. Venetian Belladonna is definitely going for that seductive quality as it kind of stalks the wearer.

Venetian Belladonna opens with a nice riff on fruity floral. M. Gueros employs a very transparent violet which overlays the much more aggressive fruitiness. The core of that is a Symrise molecule called Sultanene. This is a tropical fruit cocktail aromachemical. To keep it from tilting too tropical cassis and plum are used to bring it away from that. The heart becomes more floral with iris, tuberose, and jasmine. This kind of intensity is necessary to match the fruitiness of the top accord. The base becomes more animalic as the botanical musk of ambrette seeds mixes with a leather accord. There is also a lovely honeyed cognac which also appears simultaneously. This is almost as if I am being offered a drink and a wink from a wide-eyed Venetian witch. Before I fall under the spell vetiver, patchouli, and sandalwood form the base accord.

Venetian Belladonna has 10-12 hour longevity and average sillage.

I really enjoyed Venetian Belladonna and fruity florals are not one of my favorite styles of perfume. M. Gueros managed to find a different path through this overexposed sector.

If you missed Part 1 which introduced the line you can check it out here.

I’ll continue on Thursday with Part 3 reviewing Digitalis and Hemlock.

Disclosure: This review was based on samples provided by Parfums Quartana.

–Mark Behnke