10
The Chameleon
"Sparkling Sand" by Jacques Zolty was one of the first fragrances I added to my wishlist after signing up here on Parfumo in early 2018.
It took me 2.5 years to finally get a whiff of it...
I didn't even remember why I had added it to my list, and the fragrance pyramid was clearly far from what I thought I had identified as my preferences (in fact, there are several scent notes listed that I generally don't like at all).
When I first sprayed it on during the scorching summer of 2020 without any expectations (apricot? leather? few, and extremely varied opinions on Parfumo?), I was completely surprised and immediately "hooked." And when a good offer flashed across my screen, I simply couldn't resist getting a bottle right away. I have rarely been so impulsive with a fragrance!
Originally purchased as a summer scent (as a change from my otherwise predominantly green-fresh summer freshies) - a job this fragrance does exceptionally well - it has accompanied me through all seasons over the past approximately 1.5 years, continually fascinating and surprising me with new facets.
If you're hoping I could break down and analyze the composition and individual scent notes here, I must unfortunately disappoint you - I still can't do it.
This fragrance has long become an all-time favorite for me - a "go-to" that is always special and always a bit "different," that can be worn very well in any season and for any occasion, while managing to be both pleasing and "unique" at the same time.
I won't even try to navigate through this review along the fragrance pyramid - although I have learned a lot since signing up on Parfumo, successfully "trained" my nose, and improved my ability to articulate my scent impressions (sure, there's still a lot more to learn), "Sparkling Sand" simply eludes all of that, because it is definitely a chameleon!
At one point, I went through a phase (or was it just the weather? or my mood?) where a bitter almond note or marzipan note came to my nose that I didn't like at all (and which I would currently associate most with the apricot kernel), but even this tiny "disruptive note" has long since been relativized in my little "fragrance universe."
To anyone who has only tested this fragrance once, I strongly encourage you to give it another thorough try - it could be that this chameleon catches you completely off guard at a different time of year or with a different mood.
The name is misleading; those expecting a beach-sand-sunscreen scent will be disappointed, even though the fragrance fits perfectly with the Zolty-typical casual light linen suit and Panama hat. Contrary to this association, the scent is definitely unisex, not just because light linen suits also look great on women.
For me, a great love for fragrance! Still!
And I am curious about what we will experience together, as I am sure it will continue to surprise me and present itself to me in completely new ways.
Oh yes, the longevity is excellent even in scorching temperatures, the bottle is functional and handy, magnetic closure, not a design highlight in my eyes (but my taste is certainly not a standard), and the photo currently shown on Parfumo is incorrect; the liquid is significantly darker.
It took me 2.5 years to finally get a whiff of it...
I didn't even remember why I had added it to my list, and the fragrance pyramid was clearly far from what I thought I had identified as my preferences (in fact, there are several scent notes listed that I generally don't like at all).
When I first sprayed it on during the scorching summer of 2020 without any expectations (apricot? leather? few, and extremely varied opinions on Parfumo?), I was completely surprised and immediately "hooked." And when a good offer flashed across my screen, I simply couldn't resist getting a bottle right away. I have rarely been so impulsive with a fragrance!
Originally purchased as a summer scent (as a change from my otherwise predominantly green-fresh summer freshies) - a job this fragrance does exceptionally well - it has accompanied me through all seasons over the past approximately 1.5 years, continually fascinating and surprising me with new facets.
If you're hoping I could break down and analyze the composition and individual scent notes here, I must unfortunately disappoint you - I still can't do it.
This fragrance has long become an all-time favorite for me - a "go-to" that is always special and always a bit "different," that can be worn very well in any season and for any occasion, while managing to be both pleasing and "unique" at the same time.
I won't even try to navigate through this review along the fragrance pyramid - although I have learned a lot since signing up on Parfumo, successfully "trained" my nose, and improved my ability to articulate my scent impressions (sure, there's still a lot more to learn), "Sparkling Sand" simply eludes all of that, because it is definitely a chameleon!
At one point, I went through a phase (or was it just the weather? or my mood?) where a bitter almond note or marzipan note came to my nose that I didn't like at all (and which I would currently associate most with the apricot kernel), but even this tiny "disruptive note" has long since been relativized in my little "fragrance universe."
To anyone who has only tested this fragrance once, I strongly encourage you to give it another thorough try - it could be that this chameleon catches you completely off guard at a different time of year or with a different mood.
The name is misleading; those expecting a beach-sand-sunscreen scent will be disappointed, even though the fragrance fits perfectly with the Zolty-typical casual light linen suit and Panama hat. Contrary to this association, the scent is definitely unisex, not just because light linen suits also look great on women.
For me, a great love for fragrance! Still!
And I am curious about what we will experience together, as I am sure it will continue to surprise me and present itself to me in completely new ways.
Oh yes, the longevity is excellent even in scorching temperatures, the bottle is functional and handy, magnetic closure, not a design highlight in my eyes (but my taste is certainly not a standard), and the photo currently shown on Parfumo is incorrect; the liquid is significantly darker.
Translated · Show original
10 Comments
I’m looking back on 6 years of Parfumo soon and I’m trying to draw a summary. My taste (and standards) have definitely changed, and my fragrance collection has refined accordingly, etc.
But "Sparkling Sand" has stood the test of time; it remains "special enough" for me/my nose - or has it become that way?
Although I'm a bit worried that it might have changed with the new design, because I'm really sure I'd want to repurchase it once the current bottle is empty - and since I wear it year-round, that could happen sooner than I'd like...
And "Sparkling Sand" still belongs to my island fragrances even two years later...