Mango Aoud Gritti 2024

I'm a big fan of mango notes in perfumery, and I had hopes for this one.

The start didn't disappoint: it's a realistic and juicy scent of freshly cut ripe mangoes. However, as the composition develops, the mangoes become overripe, bruised and get a distinctive note of oxidation and rot, and the whole scent dries down to somewhat synthetic sweet vanilla. Zero oud for me, unfortunately, although it would probably make the drydown better.

Personal: 5.5/10 - It's unique and tropical, but there are undertones I don't enjoy.
Mass appeal: 6/10 - Mango is juicy and likable, but the oud makes it divisive.
Performance: 8/10 - Strong longevity and projection.
Value: 5/10 - It's expensive, and although it's creative, it doesn't earn its price tag.
Uniqueness: 9/10 - There aren't many tropical oud perfumes, and none quite like this one.
SCORE: 67/100

Full bottle buy? NO, it's too weird.
Blind buy? NO, tropical fruit and oud is remarkably polarizing.
Recommend? YES, if you want something dark, fruity, and different.
Date night? NO, it's a bit too strange to come across as alluring.
Office safe? NO, mango and oud would turn heads, and not in a good way.

Pros: Very unique, mango aside, it's actually quite deep and resinous.
Cons: Very polarizing, a bit weird, and pricey for something 'fun'.

The opening of this fragrance hits you with a blast of mango, vanilla, and dark animalic oud. It's not the smooth, approachable oud you may be familiar with. It smells dark and barnyard-ey. It gives the mango a slightly rancid note that, though not the loudest, is present enough that I don't enjoy smelling this fragrance. It absolutely wins points for uniqueness, as mango paired with the dark overtones of oud is something I've never quite smelled before. I don't know that this fragrance even paints enough of a picture for me to call it 'olfactory art'. It's more, just, okay. I don't think anyone NEEDS a sample of it, but it's definitely an experience if you buy one.

A tropical-oud curiosity. It's okay, I guess. But it's not remarkable as something I'd wear.

*Review #42 in my fragrance journey - this fragrance I own as a decant*

It was a blind buy. And at first it was overwhelming, synthetic, a bit too much. But wow how does it grow on you! It becomes almost addictive. Opens up with this synthetic mango but quickly transforms into softer woody want mango. The key is not to overspray it, otherwise will give you and everyone around you a headache. Need to wear just the right amount in order for it to show all of its beauty.

This opens initially with a slightly body-spray style mango that you might smell on a teenage girl but quickly fades into what comes off to me as ripe mango and pencil shavings, the osmanthus and whatever synthetic oud I presume they have used.

They have done this perfectly for sunny weather as it has juiciness but isn't going to give way as and when the wearer is sweating. I wouldn't say it's rotting as some might but it definitely comes off synthetic at points.

A texture of syrup and pencils, mass appealing and nice but not groundbreakingly so.

Notes I noticed: guava, mango, coconut milk, amber

Things I liked: the scent !!!!!!! i love how it is so deep and rich but also crisp and light like a lovely tropical soft drink... genuinely a genius combination. lasted a decent amount of time & has decent sillage for how light it smells

Things I didn't like: when it fades it leaves a little bit of wood that sometimes doesn't really work for me personally but ... great overall. genius!

Will I repurchase?: YES!! i will probably buy a full size. so lovely. perfect kiwiclams scent