Today, I cleaned out a sorting box filled with notes and found a sample I had purchased earlier this year. Luckily, I had noted it down in my notebook right away. However, when I sniffed the spray head, I had decided to test Orange Blossom by Organic Glam later. Because it probably wouldn’t be a scent I would like. -
And I had forgotten about it until today. So I sprayed Orange Blossom blindly on my wrists without informing myself about it. And my vague suspicion was confirmed.
At first, I was greeted by a sultry, oppressive neroli. I was initially puzzled; it’s called "Orange Blossom," right? Why did my sense of smell insist on also perceiving tuberose? Oh yes, it came to me that I had already tested the tuberose scent from Organic Glam. Still, I smelled tuberose for a while, no matter what. I cautiously checked the label on the sample again with a magnifying glass.
And it remained, until now, a kind of dull, dry quasi-cologne. The orange blossoms seemed to me as if they had been hung up to dry on an attic long ago, along with the branches and leaves, and forgotten. There, they had become musty, shriveled into crumbly gray leaves. Only a bland, dry, slightly dusty hint of the former freshness still rose with the dust when disposing of it. That’s how I smelled it. What I find really disturbing, or found, was an eco-like scent that I had identified for myself years ago, after some misinterpretations, as chamomile. At that time - so my information back then - it was a fixative for ecological fragrances. But I can't stand chamomile aroma in any form, nor can I tolerate it in teas and similar things.
Additionally, Orange Blossom has the specific dull terpene scent of real rosewood oil.
Now, almost 8 hours have passed. From my wrists, I can still perceive a somewhat eco-like but nonetheless more pleasant, slightly sweet, and smoother scent of neroli and brighter citrus notes, almost skin-close. The dullness and dustiness have disappeared. But I miss invigorating, zesty citrus notes and a more radiant orange blossom note. In any case, colognes and predominantly citrus scents are not among my preferred perfumes. Organic Blossom will therefore never make it into my collection.
You usually expect freshness from orange blossom, floral or citrus notes, maybe even some indolic hints. Although in most fragrances, the indolic aspect is filtered out. Perhaps that's why there's a hint of tuberose? I tried the jasmine from Organic Glam, and I find it quite pleasant.
Pure essential oils, absolutes, etc. do have that "dullness" to them. There are only a few oils (mostly citrus) that can balance it out. However, citrus needs to be dosed quite high, which risks it smelling like toilet cleaner. It's a real balancing act 🤔.
I have the same issues with natural cosmetics as I do with scented non-eco-friendly ones. Due to my rosacea and generally very sensitive skin, I need special and ideally fragrance-free products from the pharmacy. However, fortunately, I don't have any problems with perfumes in areas where they're applied.
Still, I'm going to test it; after all, you might find something beautiful. The Tuberose from Organic Glam, for example, is very lovely, even if it lacks its charmingly problematic character.
To be honest, I have a soft spot for these natural cosmetic eco-fragrances, but first of all, they don't last very long, they can go off quickly, and secondly, some have this slightly musty character that might actually be related to certain fixatives or bases.