Moonlight Whisper is a floral-gourmand creation by Jérôme Epinette, which comes to life from a formula composed of pistachio, caramel, flowers, and vanilla. Maybe it’s because of its composition, its semi-gourmand family, or maybe because of its author two schools of thought see Moonlight Whisper as similar to the perfumes
Yum Pistachio Gelato | 33 Eau de Parfum and
Sol Cheirosa '62. The three of them share several notes and accords, but the latter is also a creation of the same main perfumer. It has already happened in the past that some well-known primary perfumers collaborated with Zara creating variations of their most famous creations. I can’t say if these similarities are real or not, since I haven’t yet tried the two perfumes in question that this Zara perfume should be inspired by. What I can say is how it presents itself to my nose and on my skin, stating that once again Zara surprises us with essences that smell of niche.
The scent in question unfolds fresh, soapy and bright with a plethora of tart citrus and a hint of alcohol. It is vivid and tangy, and there is a creamy sensation. The citrus zest and oil, with its natural aromas, give this essence the citrus facets of bergamot mixed with swirls of cream. Yes, I can detect the nutty, sweet pistachio, like a Sicilian pistachio spread. As soon as the citrus accord gives up, the balsamic and minty green cardamom exudes. It is not all overwhelming, just there to balance the tart fruit and nutty seed. There is a smooth, musky sweetness in the background. The hazelnut is slightly toasted as if the pistachio seeds were toasted in a pan with burnt sugar. Maybe that is the idea of caramelized pistachio. It is fresh in a creamy way if such a statement makes sense. Bellini, Bellini, Bellini... is there such a thing as prosecco and white peach? I can’t say, but there’s a slight hint of peach, with a certain alcohol content, if you can detect it.
The fragrance then develops into a soft, delicate, cotton candy-like scent that is slightly more feminine than the opening, but still retains its airy, uplifting qualities without ever becoming cloying or too sweet. As the caramel aroma peeks through, I can smell every ingredient: the salted butter, the condensed milk, the brown sugar, and the corn syrup, as if it were homemade, and the aroma wafts throughout the kitchen. What started with a burst of fresh citrus then tiptoes into white petals lost in musks and powders. The bouquet is powdery and rosy, with jasmine petals, never too floral. Instead, the flowers here give it a light soapy feel.
In the drydown, I can just detect a sweet, airy hazelnut as I move. As the fragrance develops, notes of skin musks create a magnetically attractive aura with understated amber, while lactonic vanilla brings a touch of decadence and warmth. I can detect a lot of sweetness in the base. However, it is a sweet sensation more similar to cotton candy than something viscous or sticky.
Simply put, sugar, pistachio, caramel and vanilla are the prevailing notes on my skin. That being said, I have had Moonlight Whisper for about a week now and I find this fragrance to be suitable for everyday wear, especially in the warmer months. Compared to the Intense version, I think it is lighter, powdery and “fresh” somehow, which is especially great for the shoulder seasons, whereas Intense is thick, full-bodied and probably a bit too cloying for summer, more suited to the colder weather of winter. This fragrance is most noticeable in the very first few hours and then slowly settles closer to my clothes and skin for the next few hours leaving a very pleasant trail of scent. I can say that the Intense version performs better, although this one does not disappoint. I can catch a whiff of it the next days on fabric and clothes. Overall, I enjoyed this fragrance. If you are expecting an extreme gourmand fragrance, this is not the one. If you are expecting an uplifting, bright, clean, soapy and slightly sweet fragrance with a slightly nutty and sweet finish, then this might be for you. I find it very versatile, not cloying and overall pleasant. I would consider it a unisex fragrance with a feminine touch, so if you like fragrances with strong masculine undertones, it’s probably not for you.
My thought is based on a bottle I've owned since January 2025 (BC 43110, PD 2024-11-06).
-Elysium
Top Notes 
Bergamot
Pistachio
Caramel
Cardamom
Heart Notes 
Sugar
Blossoms
Bellini
Peony
Violet
Base Notes 
Vanilla
Amber
Musk
Elysium
HappyMilf
Tracershy
Peppermint
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Eluei
Jasmincashew
Leomoon
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