Keeping this review short is going to be very challenging to me, as this fragrance is easily my favorite of all time. I blind bought a bottle of Mitsouko a few months ago, almost certainly against my better judgement, but it was the best purchase I have made in a long time. At the very first whiff, I knew this was my signature scent, no questions asked, and after wearing it and feeling how well it meshed with my chemistry, it was pretty much set in stone. The opening of this fragrance is so unique to me. It smells like an old candy shop that is filled with all kinds of hand made candies and treats, but its not insanely sweet either, in fact its rather well balanced overall. The iconic peach note is there, though it doesn't exactly smell like peach, but rather a sort of raw, lactonic peach skin scent that is truly the highlight of this fragrance. The citrus and florals, namely the ylang-ylang help give it that old-timey candy-like feel. When it dries it changes course completely, becoming an absolutely breathtaking combination of oakmoss and spice that envelops you in warmth and melancholy. Mitsouko is such a strange and wonderful fragrance that its hard not to love it, but I can also understand why it is polarizing. It can definitely come off as a very sad or dreary scent, but one that is absolutely worth getting to know.
I'm glad I took the risk with Mitsouko, because it's now, and likely will always be my greatest fragrance love of all time. Every time I wear it I am overjoyed to smell it again, and the amount of compliments I receive when I wear this fragrance makes just another reason for me to love this fragrance. I've always thought it sounded a bit gauche to say a fragrance could bring you to (positive) tears, but I think Mitsouko could do that to me. Bravo Jacques Guerlain, your genius will always be appreciated!
