Olfactif perfume sampling subscription service [PLUS 3-month subscription giveaway!]

The draw is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!


I love the idea of subscription boxes, and I've been tempted by more than a few. When Tara from Olfactif reached out to let me give hers a try (she's a fellow Chicagoan, by the way), I felt instantly supportive. Her goal is to provide a variety of niche fragrance samples, from the more well known to the obscure. The selection I received is titled "Vignettes of Spring", and includes three sample vials of the following:

Fig Tree by Sonoma Scent Studio (Laurie Erickson)
The Soft Lawn by Imaginary Authors (Josh Meyer)
Voleur de Roses by L'Artisan Parfumeur (Michel Almairac)

All three make sense to me presented as a spring sampler. I already had samples of Fig Tree and Voleur de Roses, but was very interested by The Soft Lawn by Imaginary Authors-- a brand that I'd not yet tried.

Imaginary Authors creator Josh Meyer

The packaging is impressive. The slide-out matte black box is something you'll want to keep, and the printed material included is lovely and professional. This is no "happy hands at home" sort of thing, it feels like a luxe little treasure.

The subscription cost is $18 a month, and if you decide to buy a full sized bottle of one of the three fragrances, that fee is applied towards your purchase. Also, the first month is FREE for everyone. There are good incentives here. Part of the experience is on the web at www.Olfactif.com, where Tara shares behind-the-scenes content about everything niche.

I think that the ideal customer for this service is the beginner to intermediate niche enthusiast, or even someone who doesn't know a thing about niche or what it means. Gift subscriptions will be available very soon, and this could potentially be a very good tool in an effort for perfume nuts to bridge the gap between themselves and friends and family who say they just don't get our obsession. Even seasoned perfume lovers can appreciate what Olfactif has to offer-- I don't know about you, but I love a surprise! You will never know what's being sent your way until you get it. That's sort of the perfume lover's equivalent of riding a rollercoaster or some other nail-biting experience. With Tara as your friendly guide, Olfactif feels more like a pal dishing about cool scents that she loves than an impersonal, generic service.

Tara from Olfactif has been kind enough to offer one reader of this blog a complimentary 3-month subscription to her perfume sampling service. All you have to do is comment below with an answer to this question:

What was the last fragrance you tried a sample of and just had to buy right away?

There will be a random drawing for the winner on Tuesday evening, April 16th at 8pm central time. I will announce in a new blog post who the winner is, and they are responsible for contacting me within two days' time at eyelineronacat at gmail dot com with their mailing information, otherwise another winner will be chosen. The winner's subscription will begin with May's selection.

Good luck to everyone! I'm off to sniff The Soft Lawn again, as it seems I can't get enough of eau de tennis balls.

[Contest is open to everyone, everywhere. Check out a recent interview with Tara on Sense of Scent, and you can follow Olfactif on Twitter HERE]

Sample subscription box provided by Olfactif free of charge for my consideration.

The winner of the Ramon Monegal draw is...

First, I want to thank everyone who left a comment. I had so much fun reading all of your entries! I feel like Santa Claus tonight, and you're ALL on my "Nice" list. 

Without further ado, I'd like to announce the winner of a Ramon Monegal 50ml Inkwell Bottle in the fragrance of their choice:

Congratulations, Isayah!

Please email me at eyelineronacat at gmail dot com with your mailing address, phone number (for FedEx) and your choice of fragrance. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have about the scents!

A special thank you to Ramon Monegal Perfumes for this wonderful prize.

List Randomizer

There were 27 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Isayah
2. dreamer
3. Brady Dommermuth
4. Stephen
5. Natalie
6. ana
7. Aimee L'Ondee
8. Nekosan
9. Liz Reductionista
10. Undina
11. cj
12. Barney B.
13. DRTVrmoi
14. Victoria
15. Tony Goh
16. Suzanne
17. Rebecca
18. phthalo
19. Lovethescents
20. Scott
21. Jana
22. sherapop
23. Dubaiscents
24. Chris
25. rene groyer
26. queen cupcake
27. radmilamila

Timestamp: 2012-07-24 01:07:23 UTC

HUGE Ramon Monegal Giveaway!

I've got a really exciting and super-awesome giveaway for you guys! Just comment on this post, answering the following question, and you'll be entered in the random draw for your very own 50ml Ramon Monegal Inkwell bottle filled with your choice of 14 fragrances:

If you could design your ideal perfume, what type would it be, and what would be the main focus of it (or notes in it)? Also, tell me about the vibe it would project.

Click HERE to read my interview with Ramon Monegal if you missed it!

I have listed descriptions of the 14 Ramon Monegal fragrances below (the RM website is still under construction, so it's not completely up to date).

AGAR MUSK: The magic of the Orient, balanced with musk and Oud, the mythical Agar wood. A journey to the centre of Eden, between seductive oceans of Amber and exciting hints of Vetyver roots.
The essence: Arabian Agarwood, Cuir Vitessence (leather), Nutmeg, Vetiver, Ambroxane (amber) , Musc Coctail


DRY WOOD: Nature in its purest state. Noble Sandalwood and Cedar, the texture of Cashmere in a mist of Amber molecules. Force and personality create a forthright and sociable attitude.
The essence: Cedrat coeur, Bay, Poivre, Mousse verte, Sarriette, Santal, Cedar, Cashmeran y Norlimbanol.


LOVELY DAY: Radiant and luminous. A vibrant presence of white Rose petals, silky texture, rooted in Iris and liquorice. An unforgettable and captivating romantic spirit.
The essence: Absolute Jasmin Sambac, Absolute Rose the, Absolute Regalise, Iris sur Cedar, Ultrazur Mol. y Cassis


IMPOSSIBLE IRIS: Mysterious and ambiguous, the legendary Iris root only gives off the extreme beauty of its perfume on rare occasions. It is only blended with the best Cedar in the presence of the exotic Ylang-Ylang flower with traces of with Violet and Jasmine that bring out all of its glamour such that it may become the most attractive perfume in the world.
The essence: Iris concrète Italie, Absolute Cassie Egypte, Framboise (raspberry), Ylang-Ylang Comores, Absolute Jasmin Egypte y Bois de Cedre Virginie.


MON CUIR: Daring and insistent. Skin to skin, leather infused with musk. A bohemian attitude, honey from Labdanum and Sandalwood creating a free, flexible and adaptable spirit.
The essence: Cuir de Russie, Fleur d’Oranger, Labdaceme, Nutmeg, Patchouly Indonesie y Musc. Santal Australie.


AMBRA DI LUNA: Provocative and daring. Golden Amber with a hint of Vanilla, subtle but intense. The magic of Jasmine wrapped in Sandalwood dust, capable of bringing one’s most hidden feelings into the moonlight.
The essence: Ambre, Ciste-Labdanum Maroc, Abs. Jasmin Egypte, Abs. Castoreum y Santal Mysore.


CUIRELLE: Strength and texture. Not the essence of leather, but an interpretation of it. Cat-like flexibility and musk sublimated with shades of honey and incense and balanced with green Cedar and Vetyver grass.
The essence: Encens Somalie, Patchouly Indonesie, Vetyver Bourbon, Bois de Cedre Virginie, Cannele y Absolute Cire d’abeilles breches


CHERRY MUSK: Greedy awakening. Innocent talisman. Sudden, informal and shameless as a compliment, from the center of a heart of Cherries in a bed of Coconut and Jasmine, which is founded on an aphrodisiac paradise of musks.
The essence: Musc Blanc, Musc de Fruit, Muscenone, Acord Cerise, Fraise, Mousse d'Arbre y Rose Chinoise.


COTTON MUSK: (formerly called White Musk) The myth of seduction, extreme purity. A provocative aphrodisiac of white musk, Roses and Gardenia that seeps gently into the skin until it becomes a part of it.
The essence: Rose Wardia, Gardenia Real, Olibanum, Vetyver, Vanille Madagascar y Musc Blanc.


UMBRA: Essence of the earth, capturing the bitter scent of Vetyver root, under the freshness of musk, the texture of Lichen and spruce balsam and that like a shadow define its soul and its perfume.
The essence: Haitian Vetyver Root, Yugoslavian Tree Moss, Madagascan Black Pepper, Bourbon Geranium Leaves, Canadian Fir Balsam, Tonka Haricot.


ENTRE NARANJOS: Fresh southern air, full of vitality and joy. Air imbued with dew from the Orange Blossom combined with the freshness of Orange Peel against a background of Orange wood and Amber.
The essence: Absolute Fleur d’oranger Tunesie, Orange, Petitgrain citronnier, Neroli, Ambre y Patchouly Indonesie.


KISS MY NAME: A troubling presence that blurs reason. Extravagance of the mythical Tuberose flower. It trails a soothing veil of Jasmine, Orange blossom and Neroli that leaves an unmistakable trace in the memory. Its nectar leaves no one unmoved and is its uniquely personal stamp.
The essence: Absolute Tuberose des Indes, Iris sur cedre, Absolute Jasmin Eqypte, Neroli Tunisie y Baume Tolu.


MON PATCHOULY: The unclassifiable essence of the overseas Patchouly, the emblem of “Flower Power”. Along with Vanilla, Nutmeg and Amber flavors, it becomes an statement of claim.
The essence: Patchouly Indonésien, Mousse de chêne Absolute., Encens essence, Geranium Bourbon, Jasmin Egypte and vegetal Ambre.


L'EAU DE ROSE: Radiant caress. Idyll between drops of morning dew and velvet textures of petals of aromatic Roses. Captivating elixir with epilogue in the shape of adage of Musks between leaves of Patchouly.
The essence: Rose Essence, Rose Thé, Rose Wardia, Neroli Artessence, Mol. Ultrazur, Patchouly Indonésien, Coctail de Muscs.

L'eau de Rose

Now, I've not reviewed any of these fragrances yet, but I'm quite familiar with them all (I might be a little obsessed), so if you have questions for me about any of the scents, please feel free to ask! The draw will be open from today, July 18th until this coming Monday, July 23rd at 7pm Central US time, at which point I will conduct the drawing on Random.org and announce the lucky winner on a separate blog post. That winner is then responsible for emailing me with their fragrance choice and mailing address to eyelineronacat at gmail dot com. The prize will be shipped directly from Barcelona to the winner, so please also provide a phone number for FedEx.

A big thanks to Ramon Monegal Parfums for this generous prize, and I'm looking forward to hearing the responses to my question! Good luck everyone!