Lasting Desire is a sweet and chocolaty scent. Ain't a dark or too deep chocolate, but a biscuit-style scent with chocolate chips. When I heard it at the Zara store a few days ago, I remember nodding my head in approval. But something was wrong. It smells like something I know very well, I told myself. Of course! It reminds me of the smell of freshly baked waffle cones that fills the air when you visit an artisan ice cream shop. Yes, it might not be unique and exciting because it uses the trendiest notes currently on the market: coumarins, pepper, bergamot, and ambroxan. However, this one smells outstanding. When I first wore it, I immediately got a cocoa smell. It has a delightful creamy scent of vanilla, tonka, and amber, with a slightly spicy pepper emerging.
I get an explosion of alcoholic and citrus notes in the opening, a sort of lemon vodka cocktail supported by a very pleasant but subtle spicy pink pepper. Instantly, zesty notes of citrus flow. I don't detect too much lemon per se, just various fresh citrus fruits, mainly from the bergamot. The thickening of the pink pepper reinforces this otherwise fruity sweetness, which bridges what appears to be a completely distinct scent at the start of drying.
There is a chocolate aura from the start, and it emerges especially in the heart, an atmosphere of powdery cocoa. It is where I mostly get the aroma of the waffle cone; indeed, I would say something similar to Loacker's classic creamkakao wafer. The perfumer distilled the lavender in the middle down to its more pleasing cologne aspects, avoiding the more challenging herbaceous and floral tones. Despite the blend of vanilla and lavender, there is no trace of the dusty hay found in #Caron pour, for example. A touch of smoky incense scent strengthens the composition, although it never crosses the line of the olibanum that spreads in church or during a meditation session.
As it dries, the coumarin becomes more prominent, and the atmosphere of the chocolate fades, but it doesn't disappear at all. Instead, a chocolaty celestial combination of lavender and vanilla follows, as if the sensual vanilla wraps around a fiery tonka bean. It smells like cocoa powder and vanilla to keep it smooth. I dare say that the fragrance is hefty on coumarins and amber accords. All the notes are well blended, but vanilla and amber are the stars here. In reality, vanilla does not appear as syrupy or gourmand, instead of as a kind of benzoin, more balsamic and resinous. Finally, there are some woody elements, which, however, are pretty subtle and attenuated. Coumarins are the undisputed winners and make themselves feel right from the start, above the other notes. Eventually, though, after several hours, the only note I pick up is vanilla. And it's not a bad thing if you like vanilla the way I do. After settling down, it's an excellent amber vanilla combination that's nothing new but still very lovely and worthy of compliments.
Longevity is excellent, and the sillage is moderate; it settles quickly next to the skin. I think it is more suitable for an evening, and the colder months, especially autumn. I could also wear it during the day because it is pretty harmless. But if I were to tie this to a particular type, I'd say an evening scent in the cooler months. It leans on autumn, as it is too cool for winter and yet too hot for summer. It is entirely harmless but not dull. It reminds me of "Invictus Victory | Paco Rabanne" and "Bad Boy | Carolina Herrera" due to the chocolatey undertone, a kind of dusty cocoa vibe. In addition, some aspects remind
Armani Code Profumo and
Uomo Eau de Toilette for reference. Ultimately, Lasting Desire is not a clone of the latter, while it shares many aspects with the recent Invictus Victory. Sure, they're in the same baseball field, but nothing more. It takes a unique twist as it veers towards rich gourmand scents.Ultimately, Lasting Desire is not a clone of the above. Sure, they're in the same baseball field, but nothing more. It takes a unique turn as it veers towards rich gourmand scents.
I base the review on a 90ml bottle I have owned since October 2021.
-Elysium
Bergamot
Cocoa
Lavender
Lemon
PedroCabral
Elysium
