04/26/2021
Elysium
815 Reviews
Elysium
2
Grapefruit And Salt: The Unlikely Power Couple
Did you know grapefruits are relatively new to this earth? They are nothing more than a hybrid formed by the spontaneous union of two foreign transplants - the Javanese pomelo and the sweet orange of East Asia - to Barbados in the mid-18th century. First grown in Florida in the late 19th century, grapefruit quickly went from being a novelty to being a daily necessity and made a fortune for farmers. The bitterness of grapefruit, however, can make it difficult to love. Grapefruit is a fruit that divides people into two groups: some love it, and some hate it, not so much for its citrusy and penetrating smell, but above all for its bitter taste. However, some recent pink varieties are more palatable. People often choke it in sugar to get it down. Yet, they once urged Americans to sweeten it with salt. Until the mid-1990s, chemists unveiled the complex and dynamic process by which salt transforms and improves the flavor. Testing the interaction between three taste sensations - salty, bitter, and sweet - found that salt increases the perception of sweetness by decreasing our ability to taste bitterness. The advertising campaigns of the first and second world wars tried to convince us that "Grapefruit tastes sweeter with salt!" as a 1946 advertisement for Morton's in Life magazine put it. The pairing, these advertisements swore, enhanced the flavor. But does salt make grapefruit taste sweeter? I don't know as I haven't tried it yet. But I know that the combination of salt and grapefruit is admirable in this perfume!
Sel de Pamplemousse (i.e., grapefruit salt) is one of four pieces belonging to Zara's Nude Collection, along with another newcomer, Royal Softness, and two veterans such as Cashmere Rose and Fields at Nightfall. It is a powerful citrus salt blend, taking ripened summer grapefruits and reducing them down to sweet and zesty nectar paired with intense salts that are sure to do the trick.
The perfume is specious, deceptive, but fatally attractive. From the packaging, all to pale pink from the box to the cap and liquid, you would expect something tender, subtle, rosy, exquisite, and seductive; instead, this perfume gives us a surprising blend of bitter citrus and salty, but not marine, accords. It opens with a blast of a citrus mix; I get the sweet orange zest with a touch of sheer bergamot and plenty of bitter grapefruit. And I won't exclude a morsel of lemon or lime. It keeps its promise, and a salty nuance is present, neither seaweeds nor seashells, just salty and very tart. The light pink juice makes me think of ruby red grapefruit variety.
The salty bitterness, or bitter saltiness, subdues a bit after a few minutes. Still, it does not disappear and remains in the background until the end. A sweet pink pepper oozes in the heart, blending with rosy, green, and metallic undertones of geranium leaves. There is a vague sense of fresh rose petals, even if the accord is not distinct enough to be recognized as a rose.
The dry has a crispy, transparent, yet brittle vetiver, perceivable but not dominant as in other vetiver-based fragrances, Vetiver Eau de Toilette to name one. Paradoxically, the citrus leftovers from the opening are more penetrating than the herbaceous root; there is green but without earthiness. Instead, I get a clean moss if I bring my nose close to the skin. So, the last stage is more musky than earthy. To some extent, it smells like a lighter version of Terre d'Hermès, with a plain vetiver feel and a touch of soapiness.
The tart and sweet aspects are enjoyable and well-balanced. I found that the fragrance evolved little throughout the day. However, it is a pleasant smell, so I did not tire of it. It faded by early afternoon and is now barely detectable on my skin. If you prefer your fragrance to last throughout the day, this one requires upkeep and re-application. Perfect for spring and summer as refreshing cologne, safe for the office.
Sel de Pamplemousse is cool, like a summer drink to be drunk at the height of the midday sun. Yet somehow, despite this evanescent style, this bubbly frothy top darkens and becomes more herbaceous; a fanciful note of vetiver appears, dewy and musky. As if, after having just sipped your margaritas, you find yourself in a field of freshly cut grass, its bouquet is intoxicating in the breeze!
I based the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since April 2021.
-Elysium
Sel de Pamplemousse (i.e., grapefruit salt) is one of four pieces belonging to Zara's Nude Collection, along with another newcomer, Royal Softness, and two veterans such as Cashmere Rose and Fields at Nightfall. It is a powerful citrus salt blend, taking ripened summer grapefruits and reducing them down to sweet and zesty nectar paired with intense salts that are sure to do the trick.
The perfume is specious, deceptive, but fatally attractive. From the packaging, all to pale pink from the box to the cap and liquid, you would expect something tender, subtle, rosy, exquisite, and seductive; instead, this perfume gives us a surprising blend of bitter citrus and salty, but not marine, accords. It opens with a blast of a citrus mix; I get the sweet orange zest with a touch of sheer bergamot and plenty of bitter grapefruit. And I won't exclude a morsel of lemon or lime. It keeps its promise, and a salty nuance is present, neither seaweeds nor seashells, just salty and very tart. The light pink juice makes me think of ruby red grapefruit variety.
The salty bitterness, or bitter saltiness, subdues a bit after a few minutes. Still, it does not disappear and remains in the background until the end. A sweet pink pepper oozes in the heart, blending with rosy, green, and metallic undertones of geranium leaves. There is a vague sense of fresh rose petals, even if the accord is not distinct enough to be recognized as a rose.
The dry has a crispy, transparent, yet brittle vetiver, perceivable but not dominant as in other vetiver-based fragrances, Vetiver Eau de Toilette to name one. Paradoxically, the citrus leftovers from the opening are more penetrating than the herbaceous root; there is green but without earthiness. Instead, I get a clean moss if I bring my nose close to the skin. So, the last stage is more musky than earthy. To some extent, it smells like a lighter version of Terre d'Hermès, with a plain vetiver feel and a touch of soapiness.
The tart and sweet aspects are enjoyable and well-balanced. I found that the fragrance evolved little throughout the day. However, it is a pleasant smell, so I did not tire of it. It faded by early afternoon and is now barely detectable on my skin. If you prefer your fragrance to last throughout the day, this one requires upkeep and re-application. Perfect for spring and summer as refreshing cologne, safe for the office.
Sel de Pamplemousse is cool, like a summer drink to be drunk at the height of the midday sun. Yet somehow, despite this evanescent style, this bubbly frothy top darkens and becomes more herbaceous; a fanciful note of vetiver appears, dewy and musky. As if, after having just sipped your margaritas, you find yourself in a field of freshly cut grass, its bouquet is intoxicating in the breeze!
I based the review on a 100ml bottle I have owned since April 2021.
-Elysium
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