NEW FRAGRANCES Review: Ineke Rűhland’s Floral Curiosities for Anthropologie Part I-“Ida Meister” + Curiousity Draw

 

 

When Anthropologie and Ineke Rűhland join forces, quality is a given.

 

At least, that’s how I see it- Ineke is painstakingly specific regarding each and every detail, a perfectionist whose very reputation hinges upon the exquisite nature of her work, both visual and olfactory.

Anthropologie has shown itself to be innovative in the choices of fragrance which grace their artful boutiques- brick-and-mortar, and also on-line.

It is not happenstance that they carry a plethora of hard-to-find items, including those of DS and Durga, Royal Apothic, Susanne Lang, TokyoMilk, LostMarch, Histoires De Parfums, Strange Invisible, and boutique-unique Le Labos [among many other cosmetic and fragrant offerings].

Ineke has created four beautiful new fragrances- not a single “meh” among them.

I was a pest and pleaded for Poet’s Jasmine and Briar Rose as a running start, because they’re so different…hoping that we could do a “he said, she said “.

Instead, Herr Mark graciously let me review these two, while he’ll review the gorgeous Angel’s Trumpet and sultry Scarlet Larkspur in the next installment.

Poet’s Jasmine: Citrus and Herbal

There is a hardy jasmine – jasminum officinale- which favors the Pacific Northwestern climate, and its blossoms can be used as a tea [among a wide variety of medicinal purposes, so I’m told!].

Is it THE original jasmine? I’m not sure, frankly- but I know that it was this tea that inspired the fragrance.

Notes listed:

Poet’s jasmine, citrus fruit, star anise, rosemary, absinthe, frankincense, cardamom, hinoki wood and guaiac wood.

This is heavenly, a balsam for the fairy bower.

There are sprightly citruses which herald the jasmine, like a fanfare.

It feels genuinely jasmine, not some attenuated, sanitized blossom- and so weightless.

The rosemary and absinthe lend a lovely verdancy that buoys the jasmine.

You’d think that the anise, cardamom and woody, resinous wonders would tamper with its beauty, but you’d be mistaken.

They serve to deepen, round out, and accent jasmine’s glory while preventing her from behaving like a runaway kite…

[I sense that Ms. Jasmine would be perfectly pleased to fly away, willful, winsome creature that she is 😉 ]


I love the airy, tea-like quality of this, and how true it feels.

The unaffected naturalness of Poet’s Jasmine is a lingering delight.

One good spritz clung tenderly to my skin the morning after.

 

Briar Rose: Fruity and Powdery


Well, well.

No fruity and powdery that I know of, that’s for certain.

This is a dark tale- when Ineke says ‘twisted thorns’, she ain’t foolin’.

Notes listed:

Sweet briar / eglantine rose [ rosa rubiginosa] black raspberry, bitter almond, exotic spices, black violet, patchouli, cacao absolute.

In these days of oud madness and patchouli fever, dark is our daily bread, no?

Perhaps not.

Briar Rose may appear at first glance to be one more fruity/floral/patchouli/cocoa fragrance- sticky, muddy, muddled.

Dusty and dreary.

After all, there are many scents already glutting the market that might answer to this description, and they are loved and lusted after.

This is not the case here..

Briar Rose is not your average sweet; it has simply enough raspberry to reel you in.

Raspberry sings with the tender rose whose bare feet are sore and bleeding, as if she’d danced all night until her slippers were reduced to mere shreds of satin.

Our delicate blossom has a dark secret, and no one knows this better than the bitterest almond, the noir of cacao, and loamy patchouli of the nocturnal forest.

I don’t find this beauty to be powdery at all, unless bittersweet is your concept of powder.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover how much my discerning spouse enjoyed this; a year ago, he would have snorted me out of the room, but we both found Briar Rose compelling and unique.

I see her as the most exquisite Jolie Laide, and would wear her like a magnificent shroud of Arachne’s own design…

THIS IS A COMPLIMENT !

[I couldn’t resist Burne-Jones’s paintings to accompany these two ;-)]

Courtesy of Anthropologie and Ineke we have a full sample set of all four of these fragrances to giveaway. To be eligible leave a comment on which Floral Curiousity you are most curious about. All of the comments from Part 1 and Part 2 will be eligible and if you leave a comment on both parts you double your chances. Draw ends August 12, 2011.

Ida Meister, Senior Editor

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45 comments

  • Thanks for so interesting reviews! I am tempted to test both after reading their perfect review but with cardamom and star anise, I would like to choose Poet’s Jasmin.

  • taffynfontana says:

    they all sound lovely but my heart wants what it wants Scarlet Larkspur is the one that tickles my fancy.

  • I’m also the most excited about trying out Scarlet Larkspur. Mmm vanilla and spice…

    By the way I’m curious, what’s the name of the picture after “One good spritz clung tenderly to my skin the morning after.” and also the one after “No fruity and powdery that I know of, that’s for certain.”?

  • Oh, am I interested! I am planning to go to anthro next time I am in a big city to try these out. I think that from what I read on CaFleureBon before, Scarlet Larkspur would be my favorite, so I am really looking forward to part 2.

    From this review I particularly enjoyed reading about Poet’s Jasmin. Also I love Ineke’s picture — she’s so lovely and romantic looking!

  • I did not read any reviews of this set, so far
    from what I’m reading, I’m tempted by
    Poet’s Jasmine-waiting for part two…

  • Michael Singels says:

    Curiosity is killing me for Angel’s Trumpet. I love the flowers, I am hoping I will love the perfume just as much!

  • Scarlet Larkspur is the one I am dying to try the most! What a lovely review – I will have to get myself to an Anthro to try these =)

  • Thanks for sharing! Cacao and almond sound intriguing as a part of rose. Very curious. And still love the way Ineke packs her scents. Lovely shades of glass.

  • Tourbillion says:

    Ah well I am curious about Poet’s Jasmine. I don’t own the “perfect” jasmine yet, though I do have some jasmine absolute that is nothing like any jasmine perfume I’ve ever tried.

  • Poet’s Jasmine sounds very summery and beautiful. But i’m also very curious about Angel’s Trumpet!

  • chayaruchama says:

    These are so lovely, I didn’t want to choose just one;-0
    I wish I could have them all !

    Bambi : The clinging lovers is titled: “Love Among the Ruins”; the prince amidst the thorns is part of Burne-Jones’ Briar Rose paintings.

  • mariotgomez says:

    I have enjoyed Ineke’s scents for some time now. I am very curious Angel’s Trumpet.

  • Oooh! These both sound great, Poet’s Jasmine in particular! But add me to the list of those who are mostly interested in Scarlet Larkspur!

  • I jumped to the Ineke website to investigate and I am intrigued by all of these! Angels Trumpet jumped out at me for it’s green notes, and Poet’s Jasmine sounds wonderful.

  • Poet’s Jasmine caught my interest! Citrus and Herbal! Briar Rose –tender rose/dark chocolate and patch,,,who can choose??!! Anxiously awaiting reviews of the others!

  • Poet’s Jasmine is calling me. I love jasmine, and this sounds like a different take on the flower.

  • The jasmine one sounds lovely. I first fell in love with jasmine through jasmine tea, so I’m always looking for the perfume that captures this. And the name is perfect.

  • Rosemary, absinthe, cardamom, hinoki and guaiac woods… and jasmine! This perfume has to be wonderful! I love all the notes.

    However, I’m not so sure to like Briar Rose. It depends on how noticeable the bitter almond and violet are. The other notes are nice.

    I’m looking forward to the other two reviews!

  • Aimee L'Ondee says:

    I’m most curious about Poet’s Jasmine! I love herbal jasmines. Vintage Le De Givenchy and Balenciaga’s Fleeting Moment are two favorites.

  • Since I’m a poet and my poet friend and I were just at Antrhop, Poet’s Jasmine is on our list to try!

  • Anna in Edinburgh says:

    Briar Rose is just edging out Poet’s Jasmine, simply because I can never resist rose:-) Nevertheless. they are both very tempting.

    cheerio, Anna in Edinburgh

  • What gorgeous images. I would love to try the Poet’s Jasmine, you make it sound so lovely.

  • They all sound pretty amazng but Scarlet Larkspur is the one calling my name for sure. I am sure they are all extremly nice and easy to wear as are most of the Ineke fragrances. Thanks for the draw

  • Elizabeth W says:

    Scarlet Larkspur was the first one I was drawn to…uh-oh, now Briar Rose is calling my name! If I have to choose only one I am most curious about, it will be Scarlet Larkspur (Briar Rose a close second)!

  • I would love to try Poet’s Jasmine. I recently won an Ineke drawing and have gotten to try all her non-Anthro scents. I am now a huge fan! thank you.

  • You had me at cardomom. The Poet’s Jasmine sounds warm and lovely. Can’t wait to sniff!

  • Now “Briar Rose” sounds like a rose I could get close to. I do like my roses with thorns. And the darker the better ! ~ YUM , Yes Please !!!

  • As interestingly refreshing the jasmine sounds, I’m afraid a thorny dark chocolate rose sounds much more appealing to me. I do hope it’s a dark, dark, DARK 90% COCOA ROSE though !? (& with enough patchouli to comatose a hippie ;o) …
    I’m glad you’re not picking up on the powder. As I’ve had enough of powdery roses to last me a lifetime I’m afraid. So that would definitely be a deal-breaker if it turned out all dusty on me. (*fingers crossed*)

  • Scarlet Larkspur sticks out for me. Jasmine and rose are two notes I haven’t fallen madly in love with, whereas blood orange and I are old pals (especially when warmed with yummy spices.)

  • Your reviews are poetic prose but I am curious about Briar Rose. I adore roses, but this does not sound like a light floral fragrance but more like a beautifully complex and alluring scent I would love to try.

  • Love the jasmine and for that matter raspberry too. But, most intrigued by Poet’s Jasmine (and in the Summer no less!). Sight (or smell) unseen is good for me. You say it so well, Ida!

  • The Floral Curiosity I’m most interested in the Poet’s Jasmine, especially with the “lovely verdancy” that Ida says is provided by the rosemary and absinthe.

  • Scarlet Larkspur sounds the most interesting from the four, but I’m also keen to try Poet’s Jasmine since I’m fond of L’artisan’s Thé pour un Été. Thanks for the reviews and draw!

  • Poet’s jasmine sounds lovely! I’m a big fan of jasmine tea and would love to smell this interpretation~