Salt Caramel Shay & Blue 2014

There's a current vogue in the culinary world for mixing sweet and savoury to produce delectable new flavours. (North Africans have been doing this for centuries). Now Shay & Blue have translated this to tremendous effect by creating Salt Caramel.

This fragrance starts off with a mouthwateringly syrupy toffee popcorn accord that slowly becomes ever more irresistible as the tonka bean note joins the fiesta. The savoury sweetness (or sweet savouriness) continues unabated through to the fragrant, elegant sandalwood base. Gorgeous.

This is a sophisticated gourmand. It is not so literal as to be a food smell. Rather, it is a multilayered, meticulously-constructed perfume in the best French tradition (but with a British twist). It lasts a tremendously long time and projects admirably. I fancy it might also do wonders for layering with other fragrances. Perhaps a spray of this with Shay & Blue's Sicilian Limes? Lemon caramel tart anyone? Yes please!

I didn't know what to expect from this one before I tried it. Would it be too much for me? Would it be overwhelmingly sweet or cloying? Would I have to scrub it off?

Thankfully, none of those things happened because it's a wonderful fragrance and one I appreciate a lot. It's true there is a degree of linearity to this one but it is simple and has such a nice smell that I don't dislike it at all, in fact it's really quite nice!

I think the best thing about it is the addition of salt to the mix, because without that, it would just have smelled nauseatingly sweet (ie just pure caramel). So to be able to balance the sweet and sour (yin-yang) aspects of this was a really good step to take when composing this one.

I do see where the vanilla and sandalwood come in, as the dry-down starts to happen. The smell of salted caramel stays throughout, turning into a caramel biscuit/cookie feel by the end. For me it's something I really like. As a gourmand lover I would recommend it if you are into these kinds of fragrances. It's worth a try.

I’ve read the other reviews about this perfume smelling like popcorn or a movie theater. I don’t get this sense at all.

I smell a big salty piece of fresh caramel from Kilwin’s. (You know, the ice cream shop that smells like fudge, ice cream, and freshly baked waffle cones when you walk inside). It’s heavenly and delicious.

I blind tested the family to get their opinions since I’d made the mistake of reading the reviews beforehand.

Each person said they smelled salt and caramel and each one said I smelled delicious. No one said the words “popcorn” or “cinema.” I gave them each time to decide for sure what they smelled. My husband picked up vanilla.

I then asked if it smelled like popcorn to them and they all laughed and said no.

I honestly don’t get the whole popcorn experience. This scent is strong and it’s definitely not typical. I can’t say that I love it, but I also don’t dislike it.

It’s 100% gourmand.

Sillage is ok. I sprayed once on a wrist and dabbed together and sprayed once on my chest. I can smell myself very strongly.

I can’t rate the price or bottle because I bought a decant from Luxury Scentbox. (I have a great coupon code for my friends if you want to try it—Just ask).

I had high hopes for this as seen recommended a lot for gourmand lovers! On first spray it is slightly overpowering and cloyingly popcorn-y, very buttery. Settles down very quickly (took me a few tries to decide) into a smooth, caramel vanilla (vanilla is listed on brand website as a note too). Its yummy and comforting. Barely detectable hint of sea salt just gives it a not-so-basic edge.

Excellent customer service from the brand itself - I ordered a 2ml sample and they had just ran out so they upgraded to a 10ml to make up for the longer wait time, really great CS!

On my mind, this is what happens if Jeux de Peau and Coco Mademoiselle had a child. I don't get much salt on this, but i do get a sugary caramel note and something that smells a lot like the bread note and the creamy sandalwood of Jeux de Peau. The base seems to have something of the sweet woodiness of Coco and curiously i also smell a floral element too, the usual jasmine accord they like to use in modern chypre creations. Not original, but a interesting combination.