How can I describe what Stéphane Humbert Lucas does to my nose with one word? Magic.
A Wish Come True is aptly named. I’ve heard / read SHL’s inspiration for this fragrance is the island of Avalon - a place of magic, a mythical island from the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the magician, Excalibur, and some stories linking Avalon to tales of the Holy Grail.
To my nose, this is surely some sort of alchemy Merlin could have conjured up! I’ve got to admit at first glance of notes I was skeptical and didn’t wear this for some time. Tuberose tends to be too dominantly feminine leaning for me to enjoy off my skin, though it can be intoxicating off the skin of a female I may fancy. I’ve been so enamored with SHL, though, that I kept this on the shelf. Over the last few weeks I’ve worn this as an evening / bedtime scent and as is often the case with SHL’s alchemy, I simply cannot get enough. I will say I didn’t find this to be a beast of a projector, but longevity is quite strong as I could still pick it up on the backs of my hands about 12 hours later.
While some of what I’ve smelled from SHL is remarkable for the photorealism of some notes, and my nose has ability to pick up on individual notes in some of his blends, others are like this one - I don’t necessarily pick up on individual notes, but the sum of those notes simply blows my mind.
To my nose this is unisex right down the middle. I was and continue to be very pleasantly surprised in that the tuberose isn’t overbearing or dominating this fragrance. It’s at the absolute perfect level and blended just right. I’ve seen some compare this to Roja’s Enigma, as well as a cola scent, where Enigma has been said to have that cola scent also, and I get that for sure. I will say, however, this hits me like a smoother, calmer, more relaxed Enigma. I have the parfum cologne so I’ve not experienced the deeper, richer parfum version. Enigma PC can, to my nose, at the opening be a blow your hair back whoa! Not screechy or off putting but more or less is an “I’m here, I’m dominant, and cannot be ignored” feel. This is a softer, more laid back “hey what’s up, I’d like to introduce myself” politely feel of a somewhat similar frag DNA.
At opening there is an effervescence to my nose. If SHL does one thing magically, it is that his fragrances go beyond a scent - they all seem to strike me with having, beyond smell, a texture to them. At times I wonder if that’s due to the nature of SHL experiencing synethsthesia and an ability to relay that blending of senses via his creations. That always wows me when I feel like I can pick up texture in a scent. Anyhow, to my nose this begins with a sparkly effervescence, reminiscent of being a child and just cracking open a cola. When the carbonation causes that cola to tickle your nose as you take a drink. Oddly, while the only times I’ve had a soda in the last 15 years or so is when I’ve been under the weather or on very rare occasion as part of a mixed drink, this fragrance almost makes me feel that tickling or the nose while drinking a freshly poured cola. I’m guessing that whole sensation is an amalgamation of the combo of the spices, citrus, and vanilla.
As this goes into the dry down, I do pick up what I believe is more of the tuberose and perhaps the Jasmine supporting the sweetness, and perhaps the sandalwood and oud. I say “I believe,” because again I can’t really pick up the individual notes. Instead, my experience is it goes from effervescent to smooth and creamy. As though, after popping open and pouring the cola, you decide to make it a float by adding a scoop of smooth, rich, creamy vanilla ice cream. I’m guessing it’s those notes coming into play that provide that smooth sensation, along with supporting the sweet aspect of this fragrance.
When I think of those stories of which I’m only slightly familiar with, for the last time thinking about Merlin, King Arthur, Avalon, and such was likely childhood, and indeed recalling that Avalon was described as a sort of magical place, and the scent of this fragrance magically being able to recall feelings of childhood and the sheer bliss of the simple pleasure of soda float… I can certainly pick up on the inspiration.
Without a doubt, in my mind, a place of such magic, the feeling of innocence and outlook of a child enjoying the simple pleasure of a soda float, are like a wish come true and so the tile of this fragrance, A Wish Come True, is spot on a perfect. Bravo, Stéphane, bravo!
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