NEW FRAGRANCE REVIEW: Smell Bent Re-Mix Project + Aloha for Summer 2012 Perfume Draw

Brent Leonesio, the force behind Smell Bent and a CaFleureBon Perfumer of the Year 2011, has a whimsical and fun-loving approach to his craft. Periodically, he will re-invent one of his Smell Bent perfumes and create what we would normally call a flanker. Unlike the vast majority of commercial flankers, Brent’s Re-Mix Project perfumes often seriously rival their originals, if not improve upon them.  Brent recently sent me a sample pack of the latest three, St Tropez Dispenser Apres Solieil, Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d, and Incensed Short Fuse. To test these new creations, I did side-by-side comparisons to their inspirational fragrances.

Where the original St Tropez Dispenser is a sunny, coconutty, suntan lotion style scent (and a really good one, at that), The St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil version is like suntan lotion to wear in the dark. Apres Soleil is rightly named. Although most “after sun” products are for slathering on when you realize you have possibly overdosed yourself on UV rays, this Apres Soleil is for when the sun has retired for the evening. Jasmine has been lifted with honey so adeptly that you feel like you are in a fragrant beehive.  There is still a hint of the day’s suntan oil on the skin. I know that when I have over-sunned, I skip the painful shower and just enjoy the sunny, slightly sandy scent of the remnants of the day, with some fragrant lotion applied to soothe the burn. This perfume captures that smell, down to the very sexy, slightly sweaty drydown.

Notes (per Smell Bent): jasmine absolute dressed up with honey, coconut, soft leather, sandalwood and nitro musk

Little Miss Panda is a pleasant, rather citrusy floral concoction with an interesting hit of fresh earth. Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d is one of those rare instances of a flanker being better than the original. I am a sucker for tropical flowers, and this is a fun, beachy, summery blend.  Where, in the original, the lime takes center stage and dwarfs the delicate pikake, in Lei’d the sweet sunny nature of the waxy bloom is allowed to shine. A tiny bit of fruit and wood grounds the scent and prevents it all from being cast adrift. The lovely drydown has just a bit of tang, as if the flowers have reached the end of their day and are throwing out a last gasp of aroma.  If I were going to Hawai’i, I would pack this to take along.  Since I am not going to get there this year, I will have to have this on hand for those days when I need a dose of the islands.

Notes: pikake and tuberose leis with guava, japanese honeysuckle, and teak

One of my favorite Smell Bent perfumes is Incensed, a smoky, churchy incense that is mellow and comforting. I often layer it with another Smell Bent incense fragrance, the sadly discontinued Tibet Ur Bottom $, which is a more crystalline, clear incense, and it makes a wonderful combination. Brent has reminded me of my blend with his Incensed Short Fuse remix. Where Incensed is subdued and wintery, Short Fuse has a nice bright bite to it that signifies an end to hibernation. It is fiery with pepper and spice, lending bit of a twist from the kitchen. There is a subtle resinous quality that makes me think of my Mom’s art studio, and which she has narrowed down to the scent of crystal varnishes. I have found it present in some of the best incense fragrances, and I love it. The underlying coziness of original Incensed is still there, smoldering away, which is wonderful, welcome, and a marvelous way to close out a summer day.

Notes: incense ignited with cardamom, pepper, amber resin and dry woods.

My sample pack of 4 ml sprays was generously provided by Smell Bent and Brent has also provided a sample pack for one of our lucky readers.  Let us know which of these sounds best to you, and if you have ever tried any Smell Bents! We will draw one winner via random.org on June 29, 2012.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

Tama Blough, Senior Editor

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35 comments

  • Linnea Wiedeman says:

    i think St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil sounds amazing. i love the description, i have never tried Smell Bents but would love to try this. 🙂

  • Tami Holubar says:

    I have never tried Smell Bent. The Incensed Short Fuse sounds great! Thanks!

  • Sue Kucklick says:

    I haven’t tried Smell Bents but your description makes me want to run to whatever place has Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d, just because it sounds like something that I wouldn’t think I’d like but would fall in love with.

  • “St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil” and “Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d”sound really exotic, sunny and happy. I like the funny names of these perfumes but also the notes sound really fine and exotic.I like the name “Incensed Short Fuse”, it seems rather heavy and woodsy and that makes it very interesting.

    If I had to pick from the three (it’s hard) i’d pick “St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil” because the notes sound better, atleast at first sight.

    I never tried any of the Smell Bent perfumes but I do like their original names especially “Fuzzy Teacup”, that is one really cute and original name!

    Creativity and originality is always a plus especially when the names sound funny!

    Thank you for the lovely reviews.
    Good luck to all! 🙂

  • I have not tried Brent’s scents, but I want to! I love the description of St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil! I would love to sample it.

  • rosiegreen says:

    l LOVE Smell Bent. My favorites are Sunshine Mama’s Spiced Tea(it smells just like Constant Comment tea) and a frankensmellie #11-610 which is a beautiful green that smells like celery and lemon. I would love to try the new remixes. Both St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil and Incensed Short Fuse sound wonderful.

  • I’ve never tried any of the Smell Bent fragrances. Whenever I go to their website I want to order them all. I’m hoping to be abe to sniff them in person at the Artisan Fragrance Salon in San Francisco.
    I’m having a hard time deciding which of the two would be better, Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d or St Tropez Dispenser Apres Solieil. They both sound fantastic to me.

  • Alas, did not have the chance to try Brent’s scents, but the description of St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil sounds just to die for.

  • I haven’t yet gotten a chance to try his scents, but have eyed them a few times!

    I am twitching to order some Ms. Panda gets Lei’d for the combo of its great name and the fact I am on a tropical flower kick

  • Amberosmanthus says:

    I’ve never tried any Smell Bent fragrances, but I just had blast perusing the website. I see an order in my future. In the meantime, I’d most love to try Little Miss Panda Get’s Lei’d. Thank you!

  • Incensed Short Fuse sounds amazing! I’ve tried Incensed, One and currently wear She Wolf almost everyday. Brent’s scents are incredible and I can’t wait to try the new remixed fragrances.

  • cheesegan says:

    I’ve tried the North by Northwest series and I liked Mountain High the best. The other Smell Bent scent I tried was Desperado and I liked that quite a bit.

    I would like to try the Incensed Short Fuse.

    Thanks for the blog and for the draw.

  • I have never tried any Smell Bents but I think I am most excited about St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil. Sounds like something I’d love.

  • “St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil” sounds lovely and is great for summer!! “Incensed Short Fuse”, seemsamazing for winter too. I haven’t tried any of their perfumes, now would be a good start! Thank you for the draw!!

  • “St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil” sounds great for summer and “Incensed Short Fuse”, seems exciting for winter too!! I haven’t tried any of their perumes, now would be a great place to start!! Thank you for the draw!!

  • Haven’t tried any Smell Bent scents, but I really enjoy their sense of humour/whimsy. Their website and blog are a fun vist. As for which of these three re-mixes are most appealing? You had me at nitro musk — the St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil.
    (And I think I’ll have to test the latest Frankensmellie, musk melange with 9 different musk aromachemicals.)
    Thanks for the draw.

  • St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil sounds exciting to me – haven’t tried any fragrances from Smell Bent, but would love to! Thanks!

  • Brent’s approach to perfume making is so fun and whimscical but the juices are potent and awesome! I love his bizarrely comforting Commando.. “St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil” seems great for the suktry summer evenings
    thanks for the draw!!

  • I’ve never tried any Smell Bent fragrances, but I like their website- such a fun, refreshing aproach
    I’m most tempted by Incensed Short Fuse
    thanks for the draw

  • ringthing says:

    I love the SmellBent website but can never make up my mind what to try…so many sound great! St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil sounds like summer perfection. Thanks!

  • St Tropez Dispenser Après Soleil perks my interest the most, mainly because I’m also a sucker for that post-beach sand and salt smell. I’ve been in love with Commando for so long now that a change up like this would probably do me some good.

  • I love the names. Very clever! I have never been so lucky as to smell any of these. St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil sounds like something I would love. Thanks for the draw.

  • I love the quirky style that Smell Bent evokes. The names are equally as intriguing.

    From the perfumes reviewed in this article, I think I’d like ‘St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil’ the best.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • I have never tried Smell Bent, but their fragrances intrigue me.

    Based on the fun review, I think I would like “Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d” the best.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • Never tried Smell Bent but the names sure sound fun! Incensed Short Fuse is as much humor as you can cram into those words and it’s the one I’m most bent on smelling.

  • TimeaZsofia says:

    Unfortunatelly I haven’t tried any of Smell Bent perfume yet, but from these I am really interested in Incensed Short Fuse!
    Thank you for this draw.

  • I have never tried Smell Bent but have really been wanting to. From your descriptions I think I would really like Incensed Short Fuse. Thank you for the review!

  • Incensed Short Fuse would be my first pick. I haven’t yet tested Smell Bent but would love to. Thanks for the review and draw!

  • St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil sounds really good to me. I have not tried any of the Smell Bents yet, but several of these sound very appealing.

  • I have tried otter luvr and LOVED it!!! From the above incensed short fuse appeals to me the most as I am a sucker for cold-hot scents. I also love Brent’s sense of humor

  • I have never tried Smell Bent, but that Little Miss Panda Gets Lei’d sounds fun for summer. Thanks for the draw.

  • I have never sniffed any Smell Bent creations, but these sound interesting, especially Incensed Short Fuse.

    Thanks for having this draw.

  • Lord! It’s really hard to decide which I’d rather try, Miss Panda Gets Lei’d, or St Tropez Dispenser Apres Soleil. I’m a sucker for tropical florals and suntan scents! I think I’ll go with Miss Panda, but it’s a tough call.