Notes from the Plague Den, Part 5: The Plague Girl Bloggeth!

A Review of Aftelier Perfumes Cepes and Tuberose EdP

Rejoice and be glad, dear reader, for I have seen the light at the end of the plague tunnel. I went back to the doctor yesterday because I thought I might be developing a secondary infection. They just called – nope! My sinuses acting up are more likely “environmental irritants” and as of Monday, I should be all clear to go to the office and return to my new work endeavors. Yay! After my chest infection became bronchitis became walking pneumonia and three months of suffering last year, I cannot tell you how happy I am to have a job that supports my efforts not to drag my immuno-compromised self all over town.

In celebration of this turn of healthful events, I will now share with you my favorite of the Aftelier Perfumes offerings thus far. Aftelier Perfumes Cepes and Tuberose is described as follows:

Wild mushrooms, with animal undertones and one of the world's most voluptuous florals. Wild porcini mushrooms and Italian tuberose play a mysterious and earthy duet.


Featured Notes
Top: bois de rose.

 Heart: tuberose, Moroccan rose.

 Base: cepes absolute, benzoin.

Cepes and Tuberose, which Aftel describes as a “Fougère family” scent, was chosen as one of “100 Perfumes Every Perfumista Should Try” by Now Smell This.

Chocolate, tobacco, hay, roses, tuberose, oh my! Cepes and Tuberose reminds me of a confection made to look like a mushroom with a chocolate cap and powdery spores. It is sweet without being sweet, foodie without being specifically edible, beautiful and supple and deliciously, delightfully weird! Mushrooms in perfume have never had it so good.

In her review, Marina talks about Cepes and Tuberose containing something that is a “tongue-coating” 5th taste. I find – interestingly – that I can always 'tastesmell' (i.e. I put my mouth over my wrist and inhale through my mouth, breathing in the taste of the scent – weird, I know, but I made it up so go with me) Mandy Aftel's scents as well or better than I can smell them through my nose. Sometimes I even get different, delightful notes this way. Cepes and Tuberose has this earthy, savory, “tongue-coating taste” smell in spades.

Cepes and Tuberose gets slightly sticky, sweeter on the drydown with me. The sillage is moderate, and the lifespan is....great! Cepes and Tuberose succeeds in long, lovely wafts from my skin where Candide and Trèvert fail me. I have tried it several times, and it is so beautiful. It is unique and wonderous; it completely deserves to be on the list of 100 scents every perfumista should try. Mandy Aftel's greatest strength as a perfumer may be in her uncanny ability to put together one-of-a-kind creations that continue to impress and wow even the most experienced noses.

Cepes and Tuberose EdP is available direct from Aftelier Perfume. $6 will get you a 1ml sample of the EdP. For $170, you can have 30ml of the EdP or ~7.5ml of the pure parfum. I will probably try the parfum before I settle on a purchase, but make no mistake – I will be buying this one. Delicious, delightful, delovely. A full 5 stars.

Want more reviews of Cepes and Tuberose? Try…
~ a review from Olfactoria's Travel
~ a review from Perfume-Smellin' Things
~ a review from Martha of Chickenfreak's Obsessions
~ a review from Indieperfumes
~ a review from Scent-and-Sensibility
~ a review from Another Perfume Blog
~ a review from Lipstick Musings
~ a review from Smelly Thoughts
~ a review from fragrantfanatic


In the interest of full disclosure, the perfume sample above was provided by the perfumer.