07/15/2012

jtd
484 Reviews

jtd
Helpful Review
7
New strategy: Put it in a less spangly bottle, give it a name like Musc deMuscatel, sell niche @ Lutens prices. Would work!
Transparent, woody rose. I’ve seen Cabaret described this way a number of times. I’ll take the transparent, and even though I can’t really describe how a fragrance is transparent, Cabaret is. I do smell a boozy rose, particularly at the opening. But overall, Cabaret smells of incense, lily of the valley and musk. There are certainly many elements that I’m leaving out, but these seem to be the key notes. They bounce off each other and form some interesting combinations as they evolve---green apple candy? Badgely Mischka-style fruity floral?
The early drydown (a fairly long stretch) smells of lily of the valley combined with the fruit-like sweetness of musk. Later in the drydown, the tone is a cool cedar-like, incensy musk. This last bit stays close to the skin but lasts the length of the day.
Again, I have trouble with the word transparent here, as I can’t really nail down what I mean. But here’s a point of comparison: Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely, similarly a musky, woody floral is blunt and gooey, whereas Cabaret feels coated in a glossy clear lacquer. The visual analogy of a lacquer or varnish, a clear layer that enhances or qualifies the color and appearance of what’s underneath, is probably close to the idea here. My bet is that there is a particular use of aromachemicals that focuses or directs the nose to the other elements of the fragrance, perhaps similar to the way aldehydes modify a floral. However it’s done, the effect is lasting and lovely.
The early drydown (a fairly long stretch) smells of lily of the valley combined with the fruit-like sweetness of musk. Later in the drydown, the tone is a cool cedar-like, incensy musk. This last bit stays close to the skin but lasts the length of the day.
Again, I have trouble with the word transparent here, as I can’t really nail down what I mean. But here’s a point of comparison: Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely, similarly a musky, woody floral is blunt and gooey, whereas Cabaret feels coated in a glossy clear lacquer. The visual analogy of a lacquer or varnish, a clear layer that enhances or qualifies the color and appearance of what’s underneath, is probably close to the idea here. My bet is that there is a particular use of aromachemicals that focuses or directs the nose to the other elements of the fragrance, perhaps similar to the way aldehydes modify a floral. However it’s done, the effect is lasting and lovely.
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