Reviews

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS OF PUREDISTANCE OPARDU PERFUME


Olfactoriastravels
Puredistance is a house very dear to my heart. Puredistance I, Antonia and M are all in my collection, I admire the style of this house and the way its founder Jan Ewoud Vos implements his philosophy and taste to build a brand that stands for luxury and quality, quite contrary to today’s trends. Opardu is the fourth perfume created for the line, the third by Annie Buzantian. The name Opardu is a neologism created by Jan Ewoud Vos, who told me with a twinkle in his eye, that it was his gift to the French who have been needing that word for a long time. Smelling Opardu, it perfectly fits that twilighted landscape of the soul hovering between tears and a smile, the name has evoked in me. Bitter-sweet memories, unfulfilled dreams, missed chances and rueful glances backwards find their olfactory equivalent in rain-drenched lilac, sweet violet and powdery heliotrope. A whiff of my mothers soap makes the trip down a shadowy memory lane perfect. Opardu is a quiet and reflective perfume, it is retro in feel and it clearly harks back to a different era. Upperclass women in Fin de Siècle Vienna might have smelled like Opardu. Opardu fits perfectly in the Puredistance canon, because it is elegant and refined, and makes me feel classy and sophisticated. Class is what Puredistance is all about, and Opardu without a doubt, has class.’

Cafleurbon
‘It has an amazing amount of sophistication and a vintage vibe while still feeling relevant for the present day. Opardu starts out with a full set of impressive and prominent top notes. Tuberose, rose, gardenia, and lilac are the initial group… The lilac here smells alive and opulent and it mesmerized me with its surprising nuance. I think this is because Ms. Buzantian chose these other strong floral notes to set it off and allow the lilac in Opardu an unusual trajectory throughout the development. The lilac persists into the heart where now it harmonizes particularly wonderfully with the jasmine and carnation. The clovelike quality of the carnation brings out some of the sharper edges of lilac, the jasmine enhances the powdery quality but without that character taking over. By the end heliotrope adds its aquatic floral character and a tiny bit of cedarwood grounds this floral fantasia. Opardu has outstanding longevity and average sillage which you would expect from something which is 32% perfume oil… Opardu is something quite special.’

Parfumistans blogg
‘Already from the start I perceive the same level of elegance as is present in Antonia, but Antonia is more of a pronounced daytime elegance where Opardu is the contrasting, mysterious and graceful night bird. Opardu is an example of a wellcrafted, quality fragrance that unfold it’s secrets in different very well blended layers, just as a budding flower. It’s a relaxing fragrance that gives a calming almost sad/bittersweet pleasure during the whole drydown.’

The Non-Blonde
Perfumer Annie Buzantian of Puredistance has already proven herself as the Queen of Pretty. Her first creation for the line, Puredistance I, was a classic French little thing around a jasminemuguet- rose theme. Antonia won me over with its beautiful greenery, and now we have Opardu, a musky floral to end them all. And not only that, the floral part is lilac-centric. I can count on one hand with fingers to spare the really good and expensive smelling lilac fragrances (and I can’t wear most of them). So, yes, smelling and testing Opardu has been somewhat of a revelation… Lilac perfumes, including Patou’s, tend to be a bit melancholy. However, Opardu is brighter and and sunnier. It’s a fragrance that keeps a stiff upper lip and a straight back no matter what. The floral notes even give an impression that’s more pink than pale purple, making it easy to wear and welcoming. There’s no hint of sweetness and only a smidgen of powder from the heliotrope. Opardu doesn’t try too hard to please– it’s confident enough in its beauty to know that it already does.’

Fragrantica
The green floral note of lilac is prominent from the first drops of fragrance… During development, misty outlines gently soothe and turn into very soft and powdery shades that are designed like a precious fabric that covers the skin in the smoothest way… When I smell my forearms trying to feel and experience the scent, Opardu really leaves an impression that I carry the most precious piece of jewelry, unique and complex, comprehensive and complete. Regardless of their different compositions Puredistance 1, Antonia and Opardu have a shared line, which connects and binds them. No matter that all three perfumes are work of the same fragrance perfumer Annie Buzantian – Master Perfumer from NY, the fragrances reflect the house’s yearning for better times, carefree times, and beauty in general. Love for woman and her beauty is omnipresent.’ 

Adelinas World
‘The woman smiles looking at the flowers and she almost feels their fresh, crisp smell that brings her so much happiness. She again immerses the brush in color and among the lilac flowers, she starts to paint a sweet heliotrope flower. This time, the colors are more vivid , you can get lost in their depth. If you close your eyes, you can feel their warm and powdery aroma. Yes! This is definitely how memories smell – a blend of space and time, over which the fine veil of melancholy sat quietly, protective.’

The Plum Girl
‘At first , as I sprayed it gently on, all I could think of is purple lilacs, lilacs everywhere. Me as a kid, lying on grass underneath a big lilac tree in my grandmothers’ backyard – before she calls me to have lunch, imagining that one day I would have a bed of purple lilacs made just for me.’

 

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS OF PUREDISTANCE M V2Q PERFUME

The Scented Hound
‘At this stage, the perfume is warm and inviting and increasingly sensual.  The perfume seems to infuse itself into ones’ skin as one making it more of an essence than a layer of fragrance.  As the perfume continues to develop, the cream begins to subside making way for a sharper mix of patchouli and tonka.  Here M V2Q seems to flex its muscle with a nicely masculine beefiness that is not shy in the least.  But once again the perfume seems to roll on out to the smooth and creamy as it settles from the more provocative to the more sublime.  M V2Q is a handsome devil of a perfume.’
 
‘The new Bond is living in the 21st century, exhibiting emotional depth that removes him from the physically tough and emotionally weak alpha-male stereotype, with a balance between being ferocious and subtle. More human, easier to identify yourself with. 

The fantasy remains, growing stronger than before, and I love losing myself in it.’

@Nischparfym
‘The fragrance opens with a spicy and aromatic blast of lavender and pink pepper. In the mid, cypriol and pine tar dominates and after a while an unexpected burst of cinnamon comes into play. The drydown has a dense and somewhat vinyl-leather aura thanks to the cedar and patchouli combo. Its also very elegant with warm richness from vanilla and labdanum.

As I already touched on, M V2Q has some similarities to Black, which happens to be one of my all-time favourite fragrances. Just like Black, M V2Q morphs and transforms as it develops on your skin, showing once again that Antoine Lie is an absolute master of his craft. But more importantly, M V2Q smells fantastic! The scent profile is super luxurious and elegant and is best suited for formal or special occasions.

Its tough to confess, but it might even have what it takes to challenge Black as my favourite from this brand! Also, at 28% concentration, the performance is beastly! All in all, M V2Q is a fantastic release is another fine example of how Puredistance and Antoine Lie put their heart and soul into each creation.’

Parfumistans Blogg
‘Somehow I imagine, after its sunny opening, MV2Q,  in the middlenotes, as a dry, dark, log of wood lying together with some black, leather in the desert warmed up in the sunlight at midday. When MV2Q reaches the basenotes, the sun sets and the perfume calms down and transforms to a darker, softer and cosier evening fragance. MV2Q is a fragrance that seems to be tailor-made  to accompanying the progress of the day into the night and to emphasize the characteristics of each part to the wearer. As usual with Puredistance, an intriguing, very well made fragrance, which is concentrated and therfore even the smallest 17,5 ml  flacon (pictured above) will last for a very, very long time.’

‘Puredistance’s M V2Q is very longlasting and quite linear in its development, fading slowly instead of giving you twists and turns. It is a solid composition without any flaws, but also not a very complicated one, so it’s easy to grasp its shape. I can’t even clearly smell many of the listed notes such as cinnamon or cypriol, or even vanilla, but they certainly add a lot of texture. I have to say that I adore M V2Q, and for me this is a very comfortable fragrance, given that it sits in the middle of an array of leather fragrances that I am used to wearing. So, for any leather lover, this might be a delight and something that you can even blind buy.’
 
‘True to the soul of M, this new composition is built on key notes of cinnamon, patchouli and labdanum, but Puredistance MV2Q softens the alpha-male elements through the addition of a floral heart, consisting of orange blossom and a gorgeous jasmine sambac. I detect none of the leather featured in the original; rather, a strapping and smoky pine tar note to affirm its masculine edge, softened again by a smoldering vanilla and tonka base. While M suggested the leather interior of an Aston Martin, Puredistance MV2Q expresses the curves of the body. Like Daniel Craig as Bond 007, Puredistance MV2Q is utterly smooth and immeasurably refined. True to the carefully-curated lineup of Puredistance creations, MV2Q is an extrait with excellent projection and longevity.’
 
@Perfumecurator
‘On my skin, M V2Q is dark, heavy, sexy and seductive. Dangerously addictive and complicated. A bottle filled with charm and seduction.’
 
‘My impressions after some martinis (shaken, not stirred of course) and even more sniffing: At core M V2Q is a modern and fascinating leather fragrance. Smooth, powerful, bright, and despite a flowery sidefocus very masculine also. Suited for stylish gentlemen on a mission. But also comforting as much as 007 can be in his romantic moments.’

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS OF PUREDISTANCE ANTONIA PERFUME


Eiderdownpress
‘If I were to describe ANTONIA in terms of a feeling, it would be that of hopeful, dreamy yearning—the kind of yearning where you see only the dazzling possibilities of chasing whatever bright and wavery thing lies ahead of you, and no thought or fear of the obstacles it might take to reach it.’

All I am a redhead
‘After the initial slightly bitter feel to greenness (and brief flirting with soapiness), ANTONIA just gets better and better. I cannot stop myself smelling it, I feel like someone perfumed my favourite cashmere sweater with lush flowers so that at the same time I feel warm and enveloped in a cloud of white, velvety flowers. Elegance and style are forever and smelling like that can never be wrong.’

Perfumesmellinthings
‘Like its predecessor, ANTONIA is entirely modern without being odd or strange; the makers were obviously aiming high and not looking for a quick hit with a trendy perfume that would soon pass out of fashion. I can see this becoming an enduring favorite in its class, and it’s classy all the way.’

Olfactoriastravels.com
‘Antonia is neither modern, nor old-fashioned. She is a timeless perfume, transporting in her feel of innocence, yet feminine and confident. She grabs you with unassuming gentleness and faithfully stays with you, tenacious, but far from overwhelming or intense.’

The non blonde
‘More than anything, Antonia is graceful and effortlessly elegant. I find it ultra-feminine, but of course that’s just me and my skin. I wear a drop and feel like I want to be worthy of this beauty and walk in its path. Sometimes I almost get there.’

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS OF PUREDISTANCE 1 PERFUME


1000fragrances
‘It’s not a fragrance to stare at and admire the virtuosity of the perfumer but rather it’s a luxury to be worn in silence. It makes a perfect fusion with the skin. Like the fashion done by women designers in this case the fact that it has been done by a woman is not a surprise. It’s like a moment of personal luxury, a secret and intimate pleasure.’

Olfactoriastravels
‘In one word: good. I could leave it at that, since that is the overwhelming sensation of satisfaction I feel, shutting me and my inner cynic up for once. Simply: good. It is a high concentration (32%) pure perfume, which makes it smooth and round and longlasting. It is not at all strong or overwhelming, it is soft, fresh, light, incredibly elegant, sophisticated and timeless.  It is clean and pure and bewitching in its classy simplicity. I have gotten nothing but compliments when wearing it.’

Eiderdownpress.com
‘Which at last brings me to the most important thing I came to know about this perfume. Puredistance 1 is exquisitely beautiful, yes—and even more so because it is a flowering mirror, intent on reflecting its light on its wearer. It is a reminder to me – the person who is so easily swayed by the dark and cunning femme fatales in my fragrance stable – that beauty without an agenda does exist, and beauty at its highest level is empathic, and full of light, and aware of more than just itself.’

Perfumesmellinthings
‘The overall impression is that of an impeccable, classical structure, of elegant coldness and dazzling whiteness…’

Nathan branch
‘Once I sprayed the perfume on my skin, it clicked: the sleek imagery, the clinical prose, the stripped-down high-luxe aesthetic all serve to woo the unsuspecting contemporary consumer into experiencing a piece of genuine perfumery art.’

Examiner.com – Donna Hathaway
‘Although this fragrance is truly unique, its structure is related to the original abstract floral, Chanel No. 5, which I have never warmed to because I can’t get past the powder overdose, not being a fan of most powdery perfumes. If the Chanel smelled like this I would have been wearing it a long time ago. I don’t usually care much for ozonic scents either, but in this fragrance it’s not overdone as it almost always is in less well done compositions, when it’s supposed to smell like the ocean but usually fails miserably, ending up harsh and metallic. Not in this perfume – it’s what ties everything together, a cool, columnar scent that matches the gorgeous bottle.’

Sorcery of scent
‘If one can imagine a perfume that embraces the fundamental sum and substance of a woman – one that enchants as much as it bamboozles – and succeeds in speaking to every man and his virility, Puredistance 1 could be it.’

All I am a redhead
‘For me, Puredistance is exactly the way a woman seduces. It is a bit austere and cold at the beginning, with flowers hinting at femininity but not so much that you can be sure before she slightly smiles at you five minutes later. And still, you enjoy the company so much, the talk is gentle and intelligent, the atmosphere relatively relaxed… After a while, you can see the signs telling there is warmth underneath that smile and the woman behind that elegance is the one you will never find tiresome. That is what Puredistance I smells like to me.’