BeginswithaJ
1
Thank god it doesn't last
Now I know this fragrance is rated above average overall so I hope I don't offend anyone with this review. It is though my honest opinion and please keep in mind that all reviews are extremely subjective. That said:
Man I hate this perfume! I would actively try and avoid anyone wearing this. It might just be one or two components messing with my nose, but in any case I find it smelling very cheap and plastic-like. There aren't many perfumes I have to wash off after testing, but this certainly is one. 'Especially Escada Elixir' does the same thing to me, unfortunately. Maybe they have some overlapping ingredients that don't agree with me.
Zara's Orchid opens fresh and bright with an almost soapy floral accord with citrus and tart green apples. It's a pointy sweetness and very synthetic smelling. Once the opening fades there's just more room for cheap aldehydes and the synthetic flowery smell lingers on. This continues into the dry down and stays for the most part very linear. It never opens up to something nice. The other fragrances from the Minimal collection are much gentler on my olfactory system so it's not just 'Zara being cheap'.
Sillage is luckily not too good, and at least on my skin the formulation available in 2020 doesn't last long. About two to three hours worth before it turns into a skin scent. Mileage may vary.
I would see this perfume on young girls up to 18 maybe, but prefer they would look at other Zara fragrances instead. There's so much more fun to find elsewhere!