Gentle Fluidity (Gold) Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2019

I swear I wanted to jump on the hype train and add a Francis Kurkdjian perfume to my collection, but it will not be this one. Really thought I'd love it based on the notes, but on my skin, it's a whole different story.

Vanilla accompanied by a blast of gin accord (probably the alcohol and the juniper berry) at the start. Then I get a strange rose (?) scent that's floral and aromatic, although there's none of it in the notes described (I'm still baffled). After this alien rose ends up leaving, I get sweetness, spices and a hint of woodiness underneath. There's a sharpness in this perfume that's off-putting to me and I just can't get over it. After about an hour or so, aromatics remain while vanilla and musks start peaking through. It's unfortunately not enough to save this perfume that smelled almost like an alcoholic drink.

Maybe it's a skin chemistry thing or maybe it's just the hype train that promised me something that wasn't there. I'm just glad I got to try and and didn't fall for the FOMO because this is definitely not the best vanilla i've smelled out there.

I imagine this is what luxury baby powder would smell like - it's not ut its also just far too powdery for me and honestly smells like baby powder for the first hour. This would be a great layering perfume, but it's pretty powerful and overpowers the few scents that I've tried to layer on top of it (BFK 540 decant, Gold Expressive, Henry Rose 'Dave').

It is a pleasant clean scent though, when most people talk about 'Clean Girl' scents, this is the vain that I imagine rather than the weirdly musky, sharp, masculine scents that dominate the 'Clean Girl' market.

What a gorgeous scent. I went in to try out BR-540, and was disappointed by the hype. Then, I tried Gentle Fluidity Gold and was in love. I blew through a 3ml decant within about a week and had to order a 35ml. It's a really lovely, smooth, and balanced Vanilla to my nose. There is sweetness, but also warm spiciness (maybe the nutmeg and coriander seeds?), and then something cooler and refreshing in the distance (perhaps the woods and juniper berries?). It is sweet and feminine, with just the right level of complexity to make it feel sophisticated and elegant rather than like an overly young and girly gourmand. It feels confident, beautiful, and overall well-blended. I've gotten a lot of positive comments from my husband on this one.

I think this would make a nice signature if you are a big fan of vanilla fragrances as it seems to work well in most seasons and situations. With thoughtful spraying, I think it would be acceptable in the workplace, but it also works perfectly for leisure and events. There is a cosiness to this fragrance that makes it lovely in cooler weather, but I also found it has a freshness that was lovely on warm days too. I surprisingly found it pleasant and inoffensive while wearing it on a sunny 4-hour hike up a mountain.

It seems to stick around well enough, it would probably last me ~6 hours or so until it becomes closer to a skin scent, but I might top up with a travel sprayer if I want the projection/sillage to be on the stronger side. 2-3 sprays is average for me with most fragrances. With GFG I find myself generally aiming for 3, but 4 if I'm really hoping to make it last for a night out. I also tend to try to get a bit in my hair and clothes as it lasts a lot better this way.

I don't think this fragrance is particularly challenging, I think it's just a really well-executed vanilla that a lot of people will enjoy. It's not a fragrance that screams for attention, it's not a fragrance that takes you on a journey or leaves you stunned by its uniqueness, but it is definitely not basic. It's poised and put-together, but still somehow feels effortless.

This is a lovely fragrance. I tried the silver version first and didn’t find that it was quite right for me. I took a chance with a sample of gold and it is perfect.

A great unassuming scent, safe for work, comfy days in. It has a little cloud around you, so it’s not a skin scent, but it also isn’t offensive. I really enjoy the powder and the spice in this one. The vanilla is so subtle but delicious, it lends a sweetness to the fragrance - the blend of all of those notes makes it quite unique.

I have never gotten the MFK hype, I really don't enjoy BR540. But then I smelled Gentle Fluidity Gold and I got it.
This smells exactly like the old money aesthetic to me - the woman who wears this flies first class, she goes to the opera, she wears 6A mulberry silk and giza cotton and inner mongolian cashmere (and it's not from Quince). It's a bit musky with a soft vanilla that's not at all gourmand or sugary. There's a bit of spiciness, a bit of woodiness, but it's not overly sweet. It's warm and comforting but a bit sexy as well.
I could see this being a signature scent and working year round through I do think it's best in fall/winter.
If I had to fault it, it's simply that it doesn't last that long and it this price point, it should. But no one has duped this so I'll continue to buy it!