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Friday, July 11, 2008

Vero Perfume Onda

Review by Tom

My dear scent twin Gaia, the Non-Blonde sent me a sample of these for my birthday, lovely creature that she is. Vero is the perfumer that no less than Andy Tauer describes as his muse, and I can see why. The scents are startlingly simple while managing to seem incredibly complex.

On me Onda starts with a minted tobacco, the smokiness perfectly balanced with the brightness of the mint. It later becomes more complex as the vetiver comes in, seemingly ripped fresh from the earth and torn joyfully asunder. Colombina describes it as "an urban person's vision of bucolic utopia" while Gaia writes that it is "beautiful, dramatic and romantic". They are of course both correct: it's earthy yet glamorous. It's Garbo joyfully tearing a root from the ground with her manicured fingers, brushing the dirt and laughing, biting in heedless of the juice that may stain her Adrian gown. It's earthy, it's glamorous, it's gorgeous.... it's not me. I might be an old man, but I think that there are a few scents that should be ladies only, and although I could wear this, I really think it's best served by being worn by you ladies.

Onda is available at her website; it's well worth checking out.

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22 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really?? You wouldn't wear this? Louise just sent a few precious drops of this that I'm clinging to like the elixir of life. That tobacco business makes me swoon. I love it and didn't really find it too "womanly" to wear. But then again, I'll wear Le Rose Maroc Pour Elle too. I emailed Vero Kern and she said it should be available here in the States in September, retailer to be announced.

6:04 AM EDT  
Blogger Marina said...

I would love to smell it on you, because on me it is decisively unisex borderline masculine! Miracles of skin chemistry.

6:32 AM EDT  
Blogger Beth Schreibman Gehring said...

Darling Tom ,you make this one sound wonderful...minted tobacco, vetiver.YUMM! I was particularly enchanted by "ripped fresh from the earth and torn joyfully asunder". I had the image of my beautiful Henry (the horse) discovering a fresh patch of clover in the cool verdant spring. This one sounds fabulous and by the way you are indeed NOT an old man. Earthy yes, Glamorous yes, Gorgeous to be sure, but definitely not old!

8:05 AM EDT  
Blogger elle said...

This is high on my *must buy soon* list. Didn't love it initially, but on resampling fell seriously in love w/ it. And, as w/ M, on me it is definitely unisex, verging on masculine. I love the mysteries of skin chemistry!

8:16 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It's Garbo joyfully tearing a root from the ground with her manicured fingers, brushing the dirt and laughing, biting in heedless of the juice that may stain her Adrian gown."

I'm sorry, can you be a little more evocative Tom? LOVE IT.

9:30 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, Tom, I love this one but we're smelling very different things. I'll have to try again and look for that minted tobacco. On me it's high grade Chanel leather before the vetiver arrives. So much so, that I think of Onda as a kind of time machine scent--it's as if Vero managed to return to the moment when classics like Cuir de Russie were being created, but with her own modern sensibility. And I agree with Marina about the unisex quality (my DH, quite conservative when it comes to scents, wanted to give it a try), though I find it devastatingly sexy on women, so urge away... With any justice (rare in the retail world, I know) this one will be around long enough to become a New Classic.

10:53 AM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

MattS-

It's not that it's "womanly" precisely, it is fairly unisex. I just think that the scent is better served by a lady. My own prejudice.

12:39 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Columbina-

I would love to oblige..

12:39 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

beth-

Thanks (blushing)!

I think you would adore this,a nd do it proud!

12:40 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

elle-

I have to admit that I am loving it more and more, and more and more wanting to express my inner Garbo...

12:41 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

billy d-

I'm blushing even harder now!

12:42 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

alyssa-

Skin chemistry is a funny thing, isn't it? But I agree that devastatingly sexy is the term for it!

12:43 PM EDT  
Blogger carmencanada /Grain de Musc said...

Lovely review, but I agree with Matts and the others: in which way is this not for men too? Onda is one of my favourite fragrances, Vero Kern is one of my favourite people (we have tea each time she comes to Paris... and we're talking three hours), and I'm happy to see Onda getting lots of love...

1:09 PM EDT  
Blogger Gaia said...

I don't know about feminine/masculine here (said the girl who wears Chene, Vetiver Oxtraordinaire and Lonestar Memories while applying her red lipstick). I think I remember Lee saying he wears it, but my husband never even considered trying. Not that I'm that eager to share this one.

In any case, seeing how Onda makes me feel tall every time I wear it, and how you're already somewhere in the 6'4" area, maybe it is a bit too much...

2:03 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tom -

Regardless of this "masculine/feminine" thing (I have been known to pull off loads of Fracas on some occasions), your description is quite wonderful and intriguing.....and if anyone can access their inner Garbo with the style and grace of the woman herself....shouldn't it be you???

Will you be doing more reviews of this line in the future??? Hope so....

Marko

2:27 PM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Carmen-

Maybe I was trying to talk myself out of it? Never know..

12:09 AM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Gaia-

Grrdh we are scent twins aren't we? Just substitute Antherpos SPF 50 lip balm.

It's not that it's feminine, not at all, It's that it's so wonderfully Hepburn-in-pants, beat-you-at-Polo-but-look-smashing-in-bias-cut-silk feminine that I would prefer to personally cede it to you ladies who will, I can write with total confidence do it justice.

12:18 AM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Marko-

Such kind words!

Yes, I will be reviewing the other two that Gaia was so kind to send me (all kudos and thanks to her!)

12:20 AM EDT  
Blogger Flora said...

Tom,I am not exactly sure about the mint, but it sounds really good! Mint and tobacco? Hmmmm....do I wear it or light it up? ;-)

12:40 AM EDT  
Blogger tmp00 said...

Donna-

Ha!

Actually I think I am in the minority on the mint. Just my skin chemistry. I wore it again yesterday and it was still there (and I really liked it); I was starting to get more leather out of it as well..

1:28 PM EDT  
Blogger chayaruchama said...

Oh, Tom.
Don't be an old wussy-pillow, my quixotic angel.
Wear this for me....
I'll bite you, gooood.

[ I adore this- but it may tend to frighten the timid.]

9:24 AM EDT  
Blogger Jarvis said...

Thanks for the review, Tom.

I'm very curious about Onda, as it was recently recommended to me as similar in spirit to the beautiful, mysterious, and utterly unattainable Djedi of Guerlain. I'd be curious to know if anyone reading who has experienced both would care to comment?

And does anyone know if it's available in the United States?

8:58 AM EDT  

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