Freak Illamasqua 2011 Eau de Parfum

What happens with Freak is a little bit what i mentioned in the review of Nuit Etoilée... Night, darkness, are slippery concepts. So is freakiness. Being us humans visal creatures, translating this concepts into olfactive signifiers is even trickier. What is a freaky scent? is it ugly? is it different? is it unpleasant or the opposite? Freak has a negative connotation, but nowadays is something some proudly embrace. If that wasn´t complicated enough, we all have different threshold of tolerance to freakiness. So, in my opinion, the choice of the name, plus this self-appointed harbinger of night title, has brought Freak more dissapointed/angry reviews than positive, being an absolutely wonderful fragance.

Going to the fragance,i have Freak Extrait de Parfum on one arm and Freak Eau de Parfum in the other. Spot the differences. Well, they seem to have the same formula (something I applaude; i hate, and i am aware this is a big word, when the different concentrations of a same fragance smell different or even completely different) The Extrait smells slightly stronger, but both are rather close to the skin and thin. Minding the price, probably there is no point in spending more in the Extrait that i am reviewing.

How does Freak smell like? Is hard to figure out at the start , you will probably need to put on your "perfume glasses" Is weird. And rare. Weird is more a first appreciation, rare is the second sniff, when you realize you want to keep it. It is a quiet, whispering fragance: the crackling noise, forbidden to mortals, of flowers opening and of little insect feet tapping on the wood floor (now that probably freaked out many of you, but having grown up with an entomologyst i have nothing but love for insects) It is a nice collection of unusual botanical notes. I admit my ignorance about most of them. I know hemlock smell musty (and there is a warm herbal mustiness in the drydown) The only notes i can easily identfy (and bring me memories of our garden at night) are Angel Trumpet and Queen of The Night, this flowers unfold their fragance once the sun is set. Overall, Freak smell like ethereal, strange, cryptogam flowers: sweet, a bit soapy, a bit intoxicating... a quiet lure, almost unnoticed, that is always there, obsessively calling. The fragance is sort of uniform, as things appear under the moonlight. Underneath the delicately alluring flowers, cool myrrh and unlit incense bring darkness, and is oud what gives a brilliant repulsive/attractive note. The drydown is woody and softly balsamic.

Freak made me remember the "altered visual perception" that the main character of Photographing Fairies suffers after eating some parasitic flowers that grew in the highest branches of certain tree. Great movie by the way.

Freak is a fragance most people wouldn´t make an objection, because is not loud, and is not unpleasant, but few of them will get it and appreciate its otherworldly, addictive beauty. Thank you, J, for this great finding.