Paradoxe Radical Essence Prada 2025

Absolutely awful.

Sickeningly sweet, like a cheap, nutty paste overloaded with sugar and artificial additives. No offense to anyone, but I honestly think it smells terrible! On top of that, it has nothing in common with the original Paradoxe fragrances, they might as well have released it as a completely new perfume rather than a flanker.

I’m completely baffled — both by the scent itself and the logic behind it.

A real shame, because the bottle looks stunning in this color!

If Paradoxe is Anastasia and Paradoxe Intense is Drizella, then Paradoxe Radical Essence is Cinderella. Outcasted, overlooked and hated on; yet unlike any of the others from this line. The stepsister so to speak. Radical Essence is the more interesting of the Paradoxe releases in my opinion. I don't acknowledge Virtual Flower, because I am against AI based formulas such as Phantom. This new edition of Paradoxe is unapologetically gourmand with a heavy pistachio note gently hugged by white flowers, neroli and orange blossom.

Thanks to the nutty note and sandalwood I find this to be very unisex, but leaning slightly feminine in the dry down. It is unique in this market of designer fragrances, which appears to be a problem for many people. What's considered "nice" or worthy of hype is almost always safe, familiar or boring. The moment brands decide to do something avant-garde and out of the ordinary, people lose their minds. I have heard comparisons to feet, corn chips and other things I care not to mention.

Fragrance IS subjective at the end of the day, but fragrance is also an art and cannot always be familiar or mass pleasing. Often, I'll say something is not for me and that doesn't necessarily mean it is a bad fragrance. Radical Essence is one of my favorite designer releases of the year, because for once L'Oreal Luxe did something a little daring.

A heavy floral opening rooted in neroli and orange blossom, which then transitions into photo-realistic salted pistachio against a background of creamy sandalwood. It’s rich, for sure. A touch bittersweet. Not really a gourmand in the highly dessert-like way that most are presented these days. The warm, floral undertones endure throughout and pick up again in the dry down, with just a hint of the OG Paradoxe DNA peeping through.

I do feel like this scent was released at an odd time, because to me it’s natural season would be winter. At its heart it’s warm, smooth, and long-lasting, and just perfect for cold, crisp winter afternoons. I also feel like “unisex” might be a bit of a stretch, depending, of course, on your attitude to sweet florals. It is to my nose quite a feminine scent for the most part, except for the initial 40 minutes or so where I agree it strays quite far into more neutral territory.

One to revisit later in the year.

Update 20/12/25: Revisiting this one in winter, and (as suspected) I’m enjoying it much, much more. Its overall richness and salty, creamy pistachio are so much better suited to cold weather. A hug in perfume form.

This perfume is a pure salty pistachio scent on my skin, but I do not mind as it is a nice and interesting aroma, different to the others I own. I am unable to smell the neroli and orange blossom top notes, and also the sandalwood base note.
The triangular bottles are very unique.
I envision peeling and eating freshly salted pistachios in front of a fire when I smell this fragrance.
Sillage is close and soft.
Longevity is moderate.

Sprayed this on my hand while browsing at Sephora. On first spray it was very nutty, that pistachio note is very prominent for the first 3 minutes. Wish it would stick around longer. Then it develops into this dark syrupy orange blossom. I could smell it even after I showered. It is the next day now I was running errands and I kept catching a whiff of something sweet and floral. I smelled the same hand and it's still there!!! Holy smokes! This perfume is atomic! I think it's a very sexy going out with your girls to a speakeasy kinda perfume. Spray with caution, you will fumigate people around you if you over spray.