Top Notes 
Bergamot
Heliotrope
Jasmine
Heart Notes 
Bitter almond
Amber
Vanilla
Base Notes 
Lavender
Musk
Sandalwood
04/12/2024
Denden22
22 Reviews
Denden22
2
Acquired Taste
First off: I've never smelled Pegasus, so Phantom Paragon is a standalone scent in my little world.
When I received my bottle two months ago, I was very disappointed; it was supposed to be a dupe of Pegasus, described as a "sweet-creamy fragrance with bitter almond as the main player." I thought to myself, "Great, I love the scent of marzipan, and this seems to be just like that. Bitter almond? Sounds like it's a regular almond, but with an even more intense almond scent, awesome!" Oh, how wrong I was...
It was a sharp, chemically-metallic wall, and there was nothing else, maybe a hint of florals, but no trace of sweetness. For me, it was a disaster of a blind buy, a 2/10. I put the bottle away...
But the thought never left me – Zimaya has never disappointed me, and Pegasus is celebrated by so many people... After some research, it turns out that bitter almonds contain cyanide (by the way, 30-50% of people genetically can't perceive it), which smells just as sharp and metallic. I kept applying the fragrance at home; I wasn't a real fan, I would never wear it outside, but something kept me hooked, it became a bit addictive. Over time, it got better and better, the sharp-metallic aspect toned down, and gradually, I could perceive the other notes of the fragrance.
Now, after two months, I'm completely thrilled - today I wore it in the park at 18C degrees, and I've fallen in love with it. The metallic aspect never fully went away, but I learned to appreciate it; once I did, a wide gate opened in the metallic wall. Personally, I now perceive:
Top notes: Bitter almond, heliotrope
Heart notes: Bitter almond, jasmine
Base notes: Sandalwood, lavender, amber, vanilla
Where the jasmine accord could also be a mix of the metallic and lavender, and the heliotrope a mix of the almondy scent and lavender... Or the two accords create a lavender-accord... In any case, it's very pleasantly floral (but not too much). In the background, it's wonderfully creamy/sweet, not quite marzipan because of the amber/sandalwood/vanilla, but I like this even better. The bitter almond remains the main player - a unique accord with metallic, nutty, suede accents... Brilliant. A slight powderiness adds the finishing touch.
I think this was a perfect example of an "acquired taste." Once the nose gets used to the unusual smell of bitter almond and the brain embraces it with open arms, a whole new world opens up. It was a wonderful journey, especially for the laughable price. Thank you, Zimaya!
For a cheapie, the longevity and sillage are quite good! In my opinion, a superb spring fragrance at 15-20 degrees.
When I received my bottle two months ago, I was very disappointed; it was supposed to be a dupe of Pegasus, described as a "sweet-creamy fragrance with bitter almond as the main player." I thought to myself, "Great, I love the scent of marzipan, and this seems to be just like that. Bitter almond? Sounds like it's a regular almond, but with an even more intense almond scent, awesome!" Oh, how wrong I was...
It was a sharp, chemically-metallic wall, and there was nothing else, maybe a hint of florals, but no trace of sweetness. For me, it was a disaster of a blind buy, a 2/10. I put the bottle away...
But the thought never left me – Zimaya has never disappointed me, and Pegasus is celebrated by so many people... After some research, it turns out that bitter almonds contain cyanide (by the way, 30-50% of people genetically can't perceive it), which smells just as sharp and metallic. I kept applying the fragrance at home; I wasn't a real fan, I would never wear it outside, but something kept me hooked, it became a bit addictive. Over time, it got better and better, the sharp-metallic aspect toned down, and gradually, I could perceive the other notes of the fragrance.
Now, after two months, I'm completely thrilled - today I wore it in the park at 18C degrees, and I've fallen in love with it. The metallic aspect never fully went away, but I learned to appreciate it; once I did, a wide gate opened in the metallic wall. Personally, I now perceive:
Top notes: Bitter almond, heliotrope
Heart notes: Bitter almond, jasmine
Base notes: Sandalwood, lavender, amber, vanilla
Where the jasmine accord could also be a mix of the metallic and lavender, and the heliotrope a mix of the almondy scent and lavender... Or the two accords create a lavender-accord... In any case, it's very pleasantly floral (but not too much). In the background, it's wonderfully creamy/sweet, not quite marzipan because of the amber/sandalwood/vanilla, but I like this even better. The bitter almond remains the main player - a unique accord with metallic, nutty, suede accents... Brilliant. A slight powderiness adds the finishing touch.
I think this was a perfect example of an "acquired taste." Once the nose gets used to the unusual smell of bitter almond and the brain embraces it with open arms, a whole new world opens up. It was a wonderful journey, especially for the laughable price. Thank you, Zimaya!
For a cheapie, the longevity and sillage are quite good! In my opinion, a superb spring fragrance at 15-20 degrees.
