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Protean Desire 2023

A perfume by SYD Botanica for women and men, released in 2023. The scent is animal-smoky. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Animal
Smoky
Spicy
Resinous
Powdery

Fragrance Notes

AmberAmber Animalic muskAnimalic musk CarnationCarnation FrankincenseFrankincense LaurelLaurel LeatherLeather MyrrhMyrrh PatchouliPatchouli PlumPlum Smoked woodSmoked wood

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Submitted by LastWonder · last update on 01/19/2026.
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Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions
smellyaries

70 Reviews
smellyaries
smellyaries
1  
Sweet Powder
This is definitely a more surprising scent from the group. The line is generally quite modern and experimental but this to me is classic powder room, to the point where it needs a puffy atomizer. As it dries down from the cloud of smoke, some more tart facets pull through but only very faintly. There's a pinch of salt in there too which gives it a slightly animalic feel. This is to be worn in a hot smoking room, and the bottle should live at the bottom of an old silk purse. It's projection is strong but in a way that feels technical, like there's an exact amount its meant to give off. As it hits the threshold of being cloying, it seeps back. Quite interesting.
0 Comments
Celine13

18 Reviews
Celine13
Celine13
1  
Wasps
This was one of the most offensive perfumes Ive smelled yet. But it isnt a bad floral smell itself - but it invokes a terrible repulsed emotional feeling for me.
My initial response was "EW, EWW, IDK"

It smells like a two faced evil, conniving woman. But not in the sexy villainous way - but a genuinely evil and hateful human being whom even the devil would shy away from. I think of wasps, expensive clothes, dying flowers. But no specific notes in here would give evil. This is just the narrative I felt from it So do not take this review seriously.
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GFB

6 Reviews
GFB
GFB
1  
A Passionate Fiery Plume
I wore a sample of Protean Desire sometime ago and loved it, finally got one of the new 15ml sizes and forgot just how good it really is. This perfume really showcases Syd's roots in incense making, as it is incense forward, animalic, and carnal. There are spices that spark the opening and lush shades of red and purple from the carnation and plum but the star is always the smokey resinous complexity. Like rolling in cinders, it's beautiful if not intense. Wears close enough to skin as to not overwhelm the room, a private little love affair between you and the flame of your desire.
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Statements

1 short view on the fragrance
8 months ago
1
Opening sweet then leaning right into resinous myrrh warmth, with smoky woods and patchouli complementing a musky animal base - Lovely
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