Accord N°2 Oriental Zara 2017

I wish it were a fragrance from a renowned perfume house. An expensive, noble jewel. One that outshines all other bottles when it stands on the shelf. Almost a collector's item. Desirable. Known and revered in certain circles.

I have often been delighted by a scent, written an enthusiastic comment, only to grow tired of it so quickly. Not that I would completely retract the comment. It was all genuinely felt at that moment. But it just didn't last long. The sample was promising and enchanting. The search for the bottle exciting. Then the bottle arrived. Disappointing.

Here it was different. Blind swap. Few expectations. Smells damn good at first. I wear it for several days in a row. Still enchanting. Wow, this could be a candidate for a comment. Signature scent? I don't think I have one, why limit myself? But I still can't get enough of it.

Well, I just wish the fragrance were unique and high-ranking in every respect, in every detail it communicates - from name, bottle, packaging to marketing and the way and where I buy it - as unique and high-ranking as what it communicates olfactorily. If I already find this special scent, couldn't it please be a perfume that is perfect all around? I feel superficial with this thought, which I actually? am not. Maybe it's simply the fact that it deserves it.

The scent is not oriental at all in my perception. Not cloying or heavy. If anything, it is an extremely bright, light gourmand. Flowers play a rather subordinate role. It is also not animalistic or particularly spicy.

What I perceive as most dominant is walnut and the lightest white chocolate vanilla. I usually don't like to compare perfume with desserts - I can only handle scents that smell very foody and sweet to a limited extent. The description tempts, but wearing it shocks. Unfortunately.
But here the white chocolate fits quite well. Nevertheless, the scent is rather unsweet. Only vanilla and rose provide a subtle sweetness. It is indeed a tad woody. But also airy. Calling the amber in the fragrance pyramid dry was extremely fitting. You can hardly smell it, and it is not very animalistic, but very mild and tame. I am still not sure if the scent is powdery. I think it has something powdery, but never dusty. More like sparkling, even. Sometimes I have this association that a scent smells sparkling, like champagne sparkles, just without alcohol. It could be that the hawthorn triggers this for me. I had seen through googling that many find the smell of blooming hawthorn in nature disgusting. I don't know exactly how that smells. For me, hawthorn is cool elegance. Chanel beige.

I don't want to write much more about the scent. I hope there will be (many) more comments.
If the fragrance is not an expensive, rare jewel, I want to focus on the benefits. I hope that many of you - especially my gourmand, vanilla, and powder friends - can enjoy this vanilla-nut airy delight thanks to the affordable price.
It is special one way or another. It doesn't have to be exclusive. I like to share this treasure with you.