Duchessa is the royalty of cherry fragrances. Have I smelled every cherry fragrance out there to make this bold declaration? Of course not, but why bother when I’m so smitten.
It opens with a dark, tart cherry which is slightly sharp & medicinal for the first minute. This quickly softens into a beautiful cherry marzipan with sweet almond & saffron in the dry down. It is gourmand without smelling like a dessert for the florals help to round it out. Soft & barely perceptible, they add beauty to the background like an elegant centerpiece at a dinner party. Duchessa is seductive, sophisticated and mysterious. It is blood-red satin gliding against black velvet with curls of white chocolate clinging to it, which makes the black velvet bottle the perfect presentation.
I’ve had my bottle for a year & the scent continues to get better. The cherry remains throughout the life of the fragrance, which lasts 8+ hours on me, and the marzipan is really coming out & adding a creamy texture. I wear it year round, 1 spray for warm weather & work (because why not), 2-3 in cooler weather or when going out (which is probably more proper for this profile). I would say the sillage is on the heavy side of moderate so there is no need to overspray. 10/10 masterpiece to my nose.
