Gypsy Providence Perfume for women and men

if anyone is interested in samples from this brand, i have a lot of 4 listed on ebay for about $10 less than getting them from providence.

i got 3 samples from providence-gypsy, eva luna & osmanthus oolong. when i sprayed gypsy the only thing that came to mind was "oh my god i want to die" and not in a good way. i did not like this at all and just wanted to get it off, it was not at all what i expected. i think osmanthus oolong gave me hives and eva luna was the only one that was somewhat ok. or it could be the other way around. i don't know if i can stomach trying the last two again to see which is which. all i have to say is try before you buy.

As a child, I was a repeat borrower at my local library, in that I would take-out a handful of favorite books as often as possible. One of them was a book on Pierrot. A series of Trina Shart Hyman illustrated books made the list. But one of my very favorites, was a book about Russian Folktales that featured a big picture of "The Firebird" on its cover and included tales about a Snow Maiden and a wicked Baba Yaga, with her house that swirled on chicken legs and was surrounded by a fencing of bones.

That melodramatic build-up is meant to prepare a nose for Providence Perfume Company's "Gypsy"; a scent that could easily be a series of Russian folktales unfolding on the skin, singing their strange, beautiful and mysterious tales and scenting my childhood dreams. "Gypsy" opens on a sweet burst of astringent wood, mixed with something that smells of wet pine needles and a hazy, soft lavender. The lavender has that deep, medicinal smokiness of the lavender found in Serge Lutens "Gris Clair", giving it a sweet, suede-like softness. It conjures-up images of puffs of vapor, rising from a bonfire on a damp day.

As the lavender quiets, a molasses taffy-like garangal mixes with a subtle blend of spices and gives the impression of oiling down a precious, wooden chest, with richly perfumed linseed oil. The cardamon adds a turpentine-like, spicy, astringent kick. Now, the florals and spice blend entirely and sweeten into a liquored plumminess, only to then be joined by a smooth, hot wood.

The wood feels like something warmed from the inside, cooled from the outside, with a vaguely smoky quality. The obvious imagery is a wooden house, in a wood, on a cold, winter's night; the inner walls are unpainted, but the wood is cured from years of fireside drying. Velvets and linens and heavy coats of many colors, hang in its wooden closets, becoming imbued with the scent of cedar, spice and smoke. Little hints of sweet, polised notes, brightly appear and then hide away, in the midst of wooden walls -- as refined as red, blue, gold and green embroidery on a black, velvet vest, against a crisp, white skirt; brought from afar, from bustling cities, passed down or stored away for special occasions. It's fineness is admired, against flickering firelight in a red-colored, wooden house, nestled deeply in the woods, as sweetbreads, liquors and rich, red jams are enjoyed by everyone.

"Gypsy" is such a stunning, evocative fragrance, that it's hard to isolate and describe the notes that make the sum of its parts. It has an overall feeling of woody, green spiciness, but there's sweetness, too and although Providence Perfum Company does not use animal notes, the dry greyness of the lavender in "Gypsy", does remind me of the sweetness of treated leathers and suede. The blend is smooth, sweet and woody but has a smoky depth that gives it grounded an earthy. I, for one, will wear "Gypsy" tonight and see if it can't burrow through my brain and retrieve vivid pictures of snow maidens in the middle of primeval woods on full moon nights or the brilliant heat of firebirds rushing through dense layers of pines. Providence Perfume Company's "Gypsy" is a world and time traveler and great teller of tales.

This is like wearing a well tailored, oatmeal colored raw linen blazer over a cozy dark brown, fine knit jersey tank--clean, natural woody notes over a well blended and delicious drydown.

On application, I get a cinnamon accord--somehow the clean, piquant ginger/cedar-like galangal in combination with warm, sweet sandalwood and nutty cardamom delivers this for me. I had an empty stomach when I put this on and it instantly made my mouth water and stomach grumble.

The lavender keeps this curiosly fresh without being very obvious and balances really well with the warmth. Violet and lotus give the cleanliness a further dimension which is also subliminal.

Rose and labdanum offer a floral sweetness to the composition and are very well blended and whispers with a little incensed feel.

Gypsy finishes as more Oriental with its warm drydown but I can see where the aromatics come into play at the beginning. Overall, an impressive perfume in the realm of natural fragrances.