Standout Fragrances - Reviewing The World of Zaharoff

 It's been a bit since I've done a review here. Life has taken me in quite a few different directions and I've been away for a while from the beauty community. This particular review and the person that I'm writing about is more than enough to take this gal out of blogging retirement and set things on fire again. 

I first met designer and fragrance creator George Zaharoff many years ago through a very close friend in journalism, had it not been that I was in the fashion industry and that he designed a coat for her, I would have never known his name, thanks to the Twitterverse at the time, we forged a friendship and met face to face at a design launch, and years later, here we are. 

With two new fragrances that just launched, NOIR and ROYALE, George is once again blazing a trail for himself. Always the gold standard, I first wanted to introduce you to his original scent, Zaharoff Signature Pour Homme (EDP)  described by Zaharoff himself, "it is sweet lavender, clean blue cypress and spicy black pepper that unfolds into an earthy, smoky woods and floral heart of Oud and Balsam, finally settling into a trilogy of warm, spiritual and sensual Myrrh, Sandalwood and Frankincense."

Oriental Wood fragrances are some of my favorites (for both men and women) When George said that his scents were the "Elixir Of  The World", he wasn't kidding. From Coriander from the south of France to Mandarin and Bergamot from Italy, Ginger Roots from India, Anise from Egypt, Frankincense, and Myrrh from Ethiopia and Oud from China, Mr. Zaharoff has indeed put together the gold standard. NOIR is a pure spell of seduction. This warms on the skin like a sensual cashmere sweater. Make no mistake, this one is for when you're wanting to set the night ablaze and make someone crave more. Dare I call it "sex in a bottle" yeah, it's that good.

Have you ever felt a buttery soft suede, or smelled that perfect combination of leather? There's just something about it that stirs the senses. That's what ROYALE reminds me of. This dries down to that indescribable concoction of Amber, Musk, Cedar, Patchouli that is like a comforting throw on a chilly night while sitting by a fire. Gentlemen, if you want to make a statement, this is the one to choose. A man always wants to stand out, and this one will make heads turn. While deeper than the original Zaharoff Pour Homme, (while in itself is sophisticated), this takes classy to the next level. Think well dressed, polished, and on the playing field ready to conquer.  This is woodsy, rich on the sandalwood, but also fresh with crisp apple, juniper, and cardamom, and you guessed it, this one is also a passport around the world, from Guatemala, Indonesia, and Italy, all the way to my beloved Washington state. 

I love how each scent differs from the other and goes a level deeper. They are not a repeat version, and they are long-lasting, a spritz goes a long way. I love discovering all the layers of a fragrance from top note to the final rendition when it melds with your own body chemistry. From a female point of view, these leave a memorable statement behind. 

 Since these reviews have been done to death and on every channel, I wanted to do something a little different and offer up a complementary women's fragrance.  The fragrance notes in Estee Lauder's Aerin Rose de Grasse are a perfect pairing to Zaharoff Pour Homme, Royale goes well with Estee Lauder's Beautiful Belle, and the magic of NOIR completes the spell when paired with Estee Lauder's Cinnabar, Olibanum, Sandalwood, Patchouli is a perfect mate, yes, you can thank me later. Think of it as a couple pairing.

Both of these fragrances were sent to me for review. Special thanks to my dear friend George Zaharoff. For more information please visit zaharoff.com, and for fragrance notes for the women's fragrances, please see  esteelauder.com. 

Until next time ~

Hearts and Hugs

BellevueGrl