Enthralled by the fragrance pyramid, I wanted to order the scent blindly. As a precaution, I decided to go for a sample instead. Hardly had I applied "Venom of Love" when my husband walked in and said, "That smells like something you want for Christmas." From my enthusiastic "Oh, yes!" it turned into "You know what? Never mind." What happened in between...
Freshly applied, a nearly chemical, biting scent hits my nose, which transforms within seconds into a beautiful mélange of chocolate, almond, and cherry. I had expected a bit more cherry; the chocolate and almond clearly dominate. I still like it, gourmand, boozy, sweet, and delicious this little liqueur... The top note dissipates quickly, the chocolate remains, and the cherry comes to the forefront. Now I really like the scent. At this point, "Venom of Love" comes quite close to its big sister "Lost Cherry" by Tom Ford, but remains darker, more gourmand, perhaps even a bit more mature. The chocolate is probably the main difference, giving the fragrance a gentle creaminess. Overall, it's not really new. At the latest since "Lost Cherry," the combination of cherry / almond / cherry liqueur has been reinterpreted / copied in countless variations. "Venom of Love" doesn't break new ground, but it does its job quite well up to this point. As soon as the rose and jasmine join in, it's impossible to avoid the comparison. After about 15 - 20 minutes, it happens. The floral accords take over, it becomes sweet and floral, the chocolate retreats almost completely, leaving a hint of cherry and almond in the background. And this is exactly where the scent starts to fray. It’s barely 30 minutes on the skin, but already close to the body. Sillage? Projection? None to speak of. "Venom of Love" suddenly appears shockingly pale, a fragrance that has been repeatedly referred to as a "Beast" in various YouTube reviews. The once fragrant flowers have lost all their power; from the dark, gourmand, mature juice, it turns into a sweet, floral little water. It reminds me of something that young people would buy with their first pocket money (which is not meant to be derogatory; as a young person, one usually tends to go for something pleasing).
That would be all there is to say about "Venom of Love." The dry down is not worth mentioning; the scent becomes so weak that I can’t perceive any listed note distinctly. What remains is disappointment and the search for the lost cherry (which I have since found in a slightly different form in the fantastic "Raw Cherry" by Aaron Terence Hughes...)
I felt the same way today. VoL really does have a lot in common with Lost Cherry - and it’s just as disappointing for me in terms of H/S. On the other hand, I find Raw Cherry simply stunning! Unfortunately, it’s not really unisex. I’d love to have it right away if I didn’t find it a bit too masculine for myself.
What a shame, I can understand your disappointment.
The scent pyramid would have intrigued me too; I still don't have a cherry-chocolate fragrance in my collection.
The scent pyramid would have intrigued me too; I still don't have a cherry-chocolate fragrance in my collection.