It opened so bitter and boozy I honestly thought my sample had gone bad. But after a minute the alcohol evaporated, and the bitterness revealed itself as a very realistic orange zest. Yes, it’s supposed to be bitter. Yes, it’s citrusy. Yes, my little panic attack was unnecessary.
The neroli is fresh and balmy. I also smell something lotion-like / creamy, probably rosewater. In general, the scent is citrusy and really smells like peeling oranges under an orange tree in full bloom. It’s also tart and almost grapefruit-y at times. The rhubarb brings its own vegetal bitterness too, so it never turns into generic orange soda. It’s not very sparkling or effervescent, more like an orange drink or cocktail decorated with a twist of peel. Not too sweet on my skin. The background bothers me a little because there’s a faint chemical smell I can’t place. And as it progresses, the neroli starts to smell soapy, which pushes it even further from my comfort zone.
In the deep drydown, it loses the bitterness and the juicy feel, and suddenly it smells like those vitamin C packets or fizzy tablets you dissolve in water. At the same time, the floral elements become more prominent, stepping forward as the citrus steps back.
This one is not for me. It’s just too bitter, and the neroli… yeah, the neroli is not my friend. I’m realizing realistic citrus might not be my jam, and that’s okay. Fun to try, but not something I’d wear. There are tons of simple orange citrus scents out there, but this one is special because it actually captures the peel. The bitterness, the pith, that sharp little zing when you scratch the rind.
