Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
04/07/2019
Elysium
817 Reviews
Elysium
1
White Orchid vs Black Orchid
I blindly bought it finally in a COIN outlet store, lusting after it for weeks. It is the second fragrance that I've ever tried from Phytorelax Laboratories, an Italian brand that uses 100% natural ingredients and created 8 different genderless fragrances, so I didn't really know what to expect, but I wasn't disappointed. I loved this perfume on the first whiff. It is such a charming combination, well-blended mix of heavenly neroli and citrus fruits, peach and orchid, iris and lily of the valley are more wood and musk. Was craving for a very elegant, refined fresh floral for Spring, after the winter period full of heavy gourmand and orientals. This was the kind of beauty I was looking for. This frag is all about the white florals and the fruity elements play a supporting role.
In the opening of the fragrance, I get a blast of bright and brisk neroli flower and a bit of juicy kumquat. It starts with an air of a quality brand and not something cheap and soon presents neroli (aka bitter orange blossom) with a fruity twist beneath. I don't smell neroli as much as I get orange blossom, although maybe it's a tad fresher than it would be if only orange blossom was used. Instead, I get a lot of lemon blossom, blended with blood orange and kumquat citrus peels. It's citrusy, but very juicy citrus and it's packed with gorgeous flowers. A lemon blossom/neroli combo that stays away from being cloying, yet rocks a delectable juicy citrus facet atop a white flowery core.
I also smell beautiful lily-of-the-valley and a warm velvety floral scent that might be the caressing white orchid, ts cool floral notes lend a fresh, Spring-like air to the warmth of the orange blossom, mixed with the peach and figs, a sort of milky figs that keeps the peach from being too sweet. Peach can be such a tricky note. When it's done well, it's gorgeous, but it's often done in a screechy kind of way which I find very offputting. This is one of the rare ones that do it well. The transition from the citrus opening to the white floral heart, still with orange notes is seamless. The fragrance has a velvet, waxy feel, and I can almost smell something like honey that gives sweetness to the composition, maybe a bit too much at times. That is the white orchid, which reminds me of Tom Ford Black Orchid, but is a more tender manner. The florals are really soft and pretty. There's an aquatic feel to this. Not ocean aquatic, more gentle stream. Now, what exactly does "caressing white orchid absolute from Madagascar" smell like? There is an orchid that smells like coconut, and others that have scents similar to chocolate, lemon, baby powder, cinnamon, and many varied things. I am guessing that the white orchid from Madagascar is reminiscent of lilies, Nicotiana, and to my nose the cool, metallic, fresh, green notes of lily of the valley.
The drydown goes a bit more vanillic and creamy musky than the flowery heart. Underscoring it all is a delicate silvery tinge of iris and white musk. Given the list of notes, you might think it'd be overpowering but the overall impression is elegant, feminine, delicate, sophisticated and airy. Neither the fruit nor the floral notes overpower each other. It remains clean and fresh lasting about 6 hours. The longevity is excellent, along with a nice projection. Full bottle worthy, despite the sweetness.
But picking the notes apart is irrelevant in this fragrance. It's like a mix of flowers, trees, and herbs releasing their scent into the air on a warm spring afternoon. The very essence of springtime. It is feminine? Yes, but not in an old-fashioned lady style. If you are anything like me, you will love it even when worn by a man.
-Elysium
In the opening of the fragrance, I get a blast of bright and brisk neroli flower and a bit of juicy kumquat. It starts with an air of a quality brand and not something cheap and soon presents neroli (aka bitter orange blossom) with a fruity twist beneath. I don't smell neroli as much as I get orange blossom, although maybe it's a tad fresher than it would be if only orange blossom was used. Instead, I get a lot of lemon blossom, blended with blood orange and kumquat citrus peels. It's citrusy, but very juicy citrus and it's packed with gorgeous flowers. A lemon blossom/neroli combo that stays away from being cloying, yet rocks a delectable juicy citrus facet atop a white flowery core.
I also smell beautiful lily-of-the-valley and a warm velvety floral scent that might be the caressing white orchid, ts cool floral notes lend a fresh, Spring-like air to the warmth of the orange blossom, mixed with the peach and figs, a sort of milky figs that keeps the peach from being too sweet. Peach can be such a tricky note. When it's done well, it's gorgeous, but it's often done in a screechy kind of way which I find very offputting. This is one of the rare ones that do it well. The transition from the citrus opening to the white floral heart, still with orange notes is seamless. The fragrance has a velvet, waxy feel, and I can almost smell something like honey that gives sweetness to the composition, maybe a bit too much at times. That is the white orchid, which reminds me of Tom Ford Black Orchid, but is a more tender manner. The florals are really soft and pretty. There's an aquatic feel to this. Not ocean aquatic, more gentle stream. Now, what exactly does "caressing white orchid absolute from Madagascar" smell like? There is an orchid that smells like coconut, and others that have scents similar to chocolate, lemon, baby powder, cinnamon, and many varied things. I am guessing that the white orchid from Madagascar is reminiscent of lilies, Nicotiana, and to my nose the cool, metallic, fresh, green notes of lily of the valley.
The drydown goes a bit more vanillic and creamy musky than the flowery heart. Underscoring it all is a delicate silvery tinge of iris and white musk. Given the list of notes, you might think it'd be overpowering but the overall impression is elegant, feminine, delicate, sophisticated and airy. Neither the fruit nor the floral notes overpower each other. It remains clean and fresh lasting about 6 hours. The longevity is excellent, along with a nice projection. Full bottle worthy, despite the sweetness.
But picking the notes apart is irrelevant in this fragrance. It's like a mix of flowers, trees, and herbs releasing their scent into the air on a warm spring afternoon. The very essence of springtime. It is feminine? Yes, but not in an old-fashioned lady style. If you are anything like me, you will love it even when worn by a man.
-Elysium
