N.F. Shioya
A sculptor living in New York
14 Comments
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treazurekitten
Dear Made By Blog:
Marina’s previous mods have been fantastic. I blended a pure fig note into one, the “R” I think, and the result was my Holy Grail, at least until I used it all up. Just received the newest mods today. You are going to end up with a stunning success. Many thanks for including us readers in your project. -
Sali
I have received mods S/T and must say, S is my favorite blend out of all of them so far. I really think it’s great–I sense cool and warm, a spicy powderiness not unlike Fumerie Turque, only more suede-leathery and musky-earthy. It brings to mind other classics such as Must de Cartier, Halston, Cuir de Russie, Obsession, and there’s a tart note like 31 Rue Cambon, and it’s not too fruity nor floral, just this gorgeous, honeylike leather skin scent with a bold, forward attitude, which I like.
Now, the T didn’t move me as strongly although they are similar–T was too flowery for me on first sampling, though maybe I’d like it better if the gardenia note could be a bit softer or more buttery smooth, more vanillic (just my personal taste talking again–don’t mind me).
What an evolution it’s been; I’d like to also say it’s been a real pleasure being involved in both Marina and Katie’s projects.
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Sali
I wanted to add that I’ve been so enamoured by mod S, I’m testing it 3 days in a row. Honestly, I also love mod Q which to me is sharper, is it fruitier? It’s somewhat punchier. S is softer, and becomes a lot more gardenia-based on me over time which is a good thing but depending on the mood, I’d also like the fruity (boozy but not too much) and less beachy floral (a little suntan oil-like) mod Q. Mod S now reminds me less of the perfumes I listed above, and seems a sheer version of Fumerie and Daim Blond, with a little Amber Extreme and a touch of Midnight Sun. Will these ever be made denser, in parfum form, perhaps?
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Marina
Dear treazurekitten,
Fig? That sounds wonderful! Now I am wondering what figgy scent I could layer with R to smell what you smell. -
Marina
Sali,
I am so glad you like the mods. I am going to post my review of them this week. The review will basically consist of !!!!s and OMGs 🙂 Because I loved them a lot, much more than the previous mods.
But…ahem…I did love the mod T, exactly because of the gardenia. IN fact, I am going to ask Clement to make the note even stronger, and the leather less strong. I too found the mods S to be kind of sheer, and even the DH said it was “subtle”. I actually don’t know what concentration the mods are. The mod T has a tremendous staying power on me, over 24 hours. -
Lavanya
I like these mods too..they seem somehow more finshed than the previous ones..I think I liked S better, but then I smell T and I like it too- gardenia and leather *is* interesting…(for some reason-the labels on my samples have darkened and I can no longer read the labels- so I am going purely on olfactory memory as far as ‘which is which’)…
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Marina
Lavanya,
Thank you very much for your comment. The combo of gardenia and leather to me is just…irresistible 🙂 -
treazurekitten
Hi Marina:
The fig I used is Ava Luxe’s plain “Fig”. I dumped most of a 1ml sample vial into about 7-5 mls of the “R” mod- delish. I’d love to try a hit of “green fig” in there as well.BUT- for me, the big news is the “T” mod. It’s got the Gardenia that you wanted. So how do you like the floral addition? Personally, I LOVE it. I think it gives this scent a unique distinct personality that it did not have before. But then, I love Gardenia. The “S” mod to me, seems like an extension of the “R” mod, a more stright forward Spice (and leather for some) scent. I would tend to layer with a scent like “S”, but the “T” mod, or it’s successor, feels more like a completed work. The T mod is all about creamy spices & Gardenia, with an elegant feel to it.
I don’t think I get as much leather as possibly some others might be getting- are you satisfied with the intensity of the leather on these mods? I smell a soft, buttery type of leather note that goes especially well with the Gardenia, perfect to play up the lush, sexy quality of the flower. And I suspect there may be some fig already in this mod; I imagine it in the base especailly, which seems just about perfect to me. But perhaps you want a scent without much sweetness, perhaps a drier or smokier scent?
As a parting thought, I will say that my DH picked the “T” mod out from an entire set of about 25 samples I was playing with. He said it is “head and shoulders above” the rest of the crowd. The only other perfume I have that he notices and comments on postively is Chanel No.22. So, I would say this is high praise indeed.
Good continued luck with your project! Keep us all posted.
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Sali
Thank you for your reply, Marina. Re: concentration of scent–I think of them as EDP because they are sillagey, but for me, they don’t seem very dense or heavy, as in the notes having more weight. Mod T seems rounder and denser because of the gardenia heart being amped up–to me, it’s boozier (like many chypre perfumes, especially fruity ones) and I like the drier, more ambery, spicy Oriental feeling of S, but by all means I’m behind your vision 100% as I’m sure you’ll design something amazing. It’s already there for me–all 4 of the last mods I received, Q, R, S and T, have been very nice-smelling compositions, all finished in my book. I love gardenias as you know–sorry to sound so critical of them–it’s my tough love talking. 😉
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Marina
Treazurekitten,
““head and shoulders above” the rest of the crowd.” is an incredible compliment! Thank you. Like you, I love the floral addition to the composition. I think gardenia and leather go together wonderfully well. -
Marina
Sali, we need tough laugh.
I agree, the last 4 mods were great. I can’t wait for the next bunch, I think they might be the last :-O -
Sali
Marina, tough laugh is my favorite kind of tough–indeed we need more, and what’s not to smile about? Gardenias are optimistic, happy, sensual, gorgeous flowers that speak to my soul. The combination with leather brings to mind lots of unforgettable classics.
But you need to keep changing your mind for a few more rounds so I could keep getting these mods.
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Marina
I CAN’T WAIT!!!