1
Unexpected
Based on the notes, descriptions, and reviews I was really hoping this was going to be a spicy fragrance in the tradition of Coco Noir and Black Orchid, two of my favorite perfumes. This perfume isn’t unpleasant, but it’s extremely unexpected based on the description. I barely pick up any spice from this, nor do I get a lot of sandalwood. This smells extremely ambery to me, and the card inside the package describes the perfume as being “coated in hazy amber,” which I find so strange because I saw no mention of amber in any other descriptions. After being disappointed by the first spray, I applied a bit heavily trying to achieve some detectable spiciness. I can’t find any. My eyes are burning from patchouli before I pick up any cardamom, cinnamon, or clove.
I’m going to give this some time to sit on my skin and try it again on a different day. I had such high hopes for this perfume. I’m surprised it’s fairly flat, but wanted to leave an honest review for anyone else drawn in by the marketing.
Updated after more time and reflection: Licorice, patchouli, amber. That’s the notes, to my nose, on the nose. This would be a stellar fragrance if that’s your thing. I’m undecided.
I’m going to give this some time to sit on my skin and try it again on a different day. I had such high hopes for this perfume. I’m surprised it’s fairly flat, but wanted to leave an honest review for anyone else drawn in by the marketing.
Updated after more time and reflection: Licorice, patchouli, amber. That’s the notes, to my nose, on the nose. This would be a stellar fragrance if that’s your thing. I’m undecided.
3 Comments
Ihwayne 3 months ago
I just had a battle of this delivered from someone who owned it but never used it. It has had time to settle and I believe my bottle to be the way it was intended to smell. It certainly is richer and spicier that what it sounds like yours is. I'd just forget about it until the fall and give it another try. It's certainly in the "Black Orchid Lite" realm. Black Orchid might be my favorite all time fragrance and Orchid & Sandalwood at Dusk didn't disappoint but I also got it and another bottle of something else for like $20 so maybe I'm being easy on it.
Ihwayne 3 months ago
@HappyHoya not sure if it helps but I'd basically describe it as very similar to black orchid in the opening but the drydown is more masculine and more akin something like Halfeti. Patchouli, woody, lightly resinous lightly spicy. I don't really see this as feminine and honestly not even as unisex IMO
HappyHoya 3 months ago
I appreciate your comment, because I am sincerely confused by my experience of this smell. I’m not sure if I got a bad bottle or what. And it’s not bad, just extremely unlike I was expecting. I have been reading more reviews though and they are all over the place. Some people described it as smoky, others as fresh. This sometimes happens with perfumes but this one seems to especially have a wide range of reactions.