Narciso Narciso Rodriguez 2022 Eau de Parfum Cristal

When I first opened this bottle and sprayed on my skin there was this harsh ammonia smell. Instantly turned me off and I put it back in the box and back on the shelf. It didn’t smell like a Narciso, it was acidic powder on like an overly animalic musk. I was so confused and disappointed.

After about a month I came back to it and tried again. It had evolved into a beautiful, vibrant musky floral. Nothing acidic. I don’t know what was going on with me the first day I tried it, but this quickly became an absolute favorite and I was reaching for it every day. Emptied my 30ml bottle in about a month. Recently purchased a 100 ml and already have a good dent in it.

It smells like if you turned the powder way down on Poudree and added glimmering florals. Freesia is one of my favorite notes in perfume and it is done very well here. Fresh and clean, with an almost aquatic tone. The freshness of the freesia balanced with the softness of the powdery musc is pure harmony. It also has similarities to Narciso’s All of Me, if you subtracted the geranium.

Performance wise it lasts my entire 9 hour shift. I can still easily smell it on my clothes the next day. Longevity is just incredible. While it does not have a big scent bubble, nor a lingering scent trail, I personally appreciate it because it makes Cristal such an easy wear for work. Keeps me locked in my own sparkling little world.

The color is a soft rose, like the hues of the first flowers in the emerging spring - powdery delicate, and so is the scent. The first spray envelops me in a veil of delicate blossoms kissed by the sun's rays - my nostrils deeply inhale these first spring messengers - beautiful. It is warm, fresh - sweetish with a gentle seductive power that piques curiosity. Are those the freesias that smell so new and different, or is it the combination of all the flowers, topped off with the warm and bright orange blossom? In the drydown, after a good lasting hour, we are embraced by the familiar and beloved musk accord that ends with the bright creaminess of cedarwood. This new perfume lasts a very long time - like the length of an endless spring day that wants to lure us into the coming warm summer. It is definitely worth getting to know, prices as usual for this beautiful brand. Here is something different for me… fresh - gentle - creamy sensuality. And also somehow natural and very feminine. Petals that have become fine scent dust.
Perhaps some may want to layer this scent with one of the other cubes.

I have been missing for about a year now, and I must admit: my taste has somehow changed during that time. While I used to always go for the “big hitters,” I now appreciate the more delicate fragrances as well. Yes, I even prefer to wear them, at least in everyday life.

My love for the NR fragrances has also grown during this time. I like the concept behind the brand. The straightforwardness. Still, I must admit, there is one thing that has always been somewhat lacking for me. The freshness. Yes, scents like “Pure Musc” do smell very clean, but also powdery or creamy. I have always wished for a Narciso fragrance that includes the well-known NR DNA but smells brighter and more sparkling.

This flanker offers me exactly that. It is indeed powdery, has a pleasant, light sweetness, and also feels wonderfully bright. Radiant, fresh. No velvety petals, no. Much more like delicate petals with morning dew. I don’t think any of the included flowers stand out in any way. At least not on my skin. They merely caress the fine powdery base.

I find the scent really beautiful. A great fragrance for everyday use or work. Clean and powdery, but not boring.

I have had a kind of love-hate relationship with Narcisos for a long time. To reach the very beautiful drydown for me, I have to go through a few more or less intense hours, depending on the version of the perfume, during which the scent can be quite bothersome at times.
In winter, for example, I can wear the For Her or the Poudrée best. Even with the milder Pure Musk, it's the same.
Although I perceive the Narcisos as very good and high-quality, they are too much for me in the first 2-3 hours, even with careful spraying.
That's why I have passed on the two fragrances I had used so far.
After I heard about Narciso Cristal through a YouTube video, I became curious and tested it in the perfumery.
For me, the right version! Finally, I can wear a fragrance from this great brand without reservation. The Cristal starts differently than other Narcisos, less intense, with freesia and orange blossom, fresh, clear, and slightly sweet. Very pleasant. After about an hour, it then smells to me like the Poudrée with rose, jasmine, cedar, and musk in a light, still powdery form.
This is exactly the scent I love in the Poudrée the next day in my scarf. Close to the body but long-lasting with the typical Narciso - DNA.
This perfume will probably be too weak for some. But I love it!

Since I am new here, I realize that I still don't have much knowledge when it comes to professional fragrance descriptions. I was looking for a powdery scent that is fresh but at the same time suitable for winter. It should have something warm and soft, so that I can really snuggle into it. Narciso Cristal fits surprisingly well into my desired direction. Normally, I prefer fresh scents; they must not be sweet at all. Narciso Cristal is actually my "sweetest" fragrance, and I find it absolutely wonderful right now in this very cold season. Perhaps because, alongside the powdery aspect, a fresh nuance remains throughout. In any case, I am currently very happy with this fragrance direction. For me, it's not a constant everyday scent, but a great change to explore a different direction that I couldn't imagine before.