Hey there Crew. The gorgeous Brent Leonesio created a perfume house called Smell Bent. I’m not sure when but the first perfume I can see released on the web is 2009. He was well known for creating uber niche, fun packed fragrance that punched well above their cost but in really simple packaging. Brent would take an idea or note and push it about as far as it could go. Then he’d do a new version and push it in a completely different direction. All came with crazy images, often hand drawn. Back in the days when it was easier and cheaper to send internationally I bought loads. His sample packs were extremely affordable and in searching my decant boxes I’ve found some doozies. So today I thought we could look back at a house closed in 2021 that helped form my love of fragrance outside the obvious choices.
These are just a few of the sample decants I have from the brand.
Smell Bent. Do you remember? 2009-21
Bollywood or Bust: Rose, sandalwood and a shit tonne of spices. Also un-noted is a whisper of ripe melon and a hint of white floral. This must have had only one spray before I bought a bottle (now long empty)
Franken Smellie S12#599: It’s a musk melange apparently but I also smell some white floral stuff swilling around in there. Yes, it’s a crazy mess but I love it and wish there was MORE!
Liberty for All: This was created as a fundraiser for Liberty Wildlife in Arizona. Loads of citrus and then a forest background underpinned by a very Australian smelling sandalwood.
Tokyo Mama Fizzzzz: All the citrus drizzled lovingly over some very dark woods. It’s sharp and as the name says, fizzy. With only a little bit of fine tuning I could imagine this being part of the Tom Ford line.
Werewolf Lumberjack: Sharp woods, green, just sawed and a slew of musky humanity mixed with wet dog. Sounds ghastly, wears so sexy. Can’t believe I didn’t buy a bottle.
I’m pretty sure some of you perfumistas must have had a Smell Bent moment?
What are your favourite memories?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
My favorites, and I still have some left, were Commando, Bollywood or Bust, Incensed, and Werewolf Lumberjack. I got the oils in the small bottles.
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oooh! Very nice Woodgirl.
wish I’d grabbed some of those oils too.
Do you still wear them?
Portia xx
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Sometimes. Right now I’m working my way through hundreds of 1ml samples before they turn.
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that is a really good idea
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I vaguely recall Bollywood or Bust, but that’s about it! And too vaguely to tell you more. A quirky range, certainly.
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What a shame Vanessa. There were some beautiful gems.
Portia xx
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I recall encountering this brand back in the day. They had captivating titles and intriguing scent profiles. However, I never had the chance to try any of their products.
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Bummer Flaconneur
I bet you would have loved some of them
Portia xx
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To demonstrate how much I was NOT into that brand, you can see the post linked to above in Related: I spent the whole day at the Artisan Salon where they had a stand, took a photo of the stand and haven’t tried a single perfume. For me, perfumes must be beautiful, elegant, romantic. I do not want it to be provocative, quirky or witty. Their perfumes could have been great, but I would rather pay more for a professionally made bottle and packaging and classy name. Yes, I am that snobbish. But with thousands of perfumes released yearly, this selection criterion isn’t worse than most others.
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I love that you’re flying your snob flag proudly Undina. You’re right. Anything to refuse a full house makes life easier for us perfumista. I have a couple too.
Portia xx
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Nope, never smelled them. With you on mourning the days of easier and cheaper international shipping, though!
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OMG Nose Prose. Those were the glory days, long gone.
Portia xx
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