Alexlinhcao
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Escentric 02 - How I Learned to Smell Ambroxan
The individual molecules line was difficult for me to experience, but especially so with Molecule 02. I literally got nothing.
However, used in Escentric 02, I really got a better understanding of ambroxan. I couldn't quite place it until I tried
Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum, and I was immediately brought back to Escentric 02. The rest of the notes are too nuanced for me to detect.
It's much more milder than the absolute bomb that Vanilla Powder is, though. So for people who want that general musky, "there-but-not-really" type of fragrance, I think this is a solid choice.
However, used in Escentric 02, I really got a better understanding of ambroxan. I couldn't quite place it until I tried
Vanilla Powder Eau de Parfum, and I was immediately brought back to Escentric 02. The rest of the notes are too nuanced for me to detect.It's much more milder than the absolute bomb that Vanilla Powder is, though. So for people who want that general musky, "there-but-not-really" type of fragrance, I think this is a solid choice.
Source 1 - Sour Saliva
I don't agree with other reviewers that the molecular, synthetic scents are boring and unnecessary. I think many can be quite lovely, and even if they aren't my jam, I know there's a market for them.
My issue with Source 1 is that it's off-puttingly sour at the top. I saw someone else make a similar Statement about it, but at first I thought it was a sample that had gone rancid. Or maybe it has? I've tried it several times since then, but I can't get past it. It reminds me of the smell of saliva, if you licked your skin and smelled it after it dried. It does fade away and you're left with something ambrox-ish, but it's certainly not worth waiting around for.
My issue with Source 1 is that it's off-puttingly sour at the top. I saw someone else make a similar Statement about it, but at first I thought it was a sample that had gone rancid. Or maybe it has? I've tried it several times since then, but I can't get past it. It reminds me of the smell of saliva, if you licked your skin and smelled it after it dried. It does fade away and you're left with something ambrox-ish, but it's certainly not worth waiting around for.
Roasted Green Tea
By name, Roasted Green Tea gets lost in translation. (Not a reference to the Sofia Coppola film, but coincidentally also related to Japan.)
Living in southern California, hojicha is popular enough of a flavor that I think this scent could've been more successfully marketed as such in the USA. In addition to being roasted, hojicha also includes the stems and twigs of the tea plant in the blend, so it's very much different than a matcha which I think some people are mistaking it for.
This scent is a lot of fun. It's instantly familiar and very tea-like. It's fascinating the way the peanut and seaweed notes combine to produce something that's different than the sum of its parts. The peanuts add a roasted earthiness and I feel like the seaweed adds an umami-quality to the overall feel. Coconut, jasmine, and vanilla all add a lactonic quality, too.
It's not particularly strong for those seeking a noticeable sillage, but I'm happy with it's performance. Given the lactonic qualities, I think it's best suited to temperate weather or the spring/fall shoulder seasons. In the heat of July, it's not my go-to.
Living in southern California, hojicha is popular enough of a flavor that I think this scent could've been more successfully marketed as such in the USA. In addition to being roasted, hojicha also includes the stems and twigs of the tea plant in the blend, so it's very much different than a matcha which I think some people are mistaking it for.
This scent is a lot of fun. It's instantly familiar and very tea-like. It's fascinating the way the peanut and seaweed notes combine to produce something that's different than the sum of its parts. The peanuts add a roasted earthiness and I feel like the seaweed adds an umami-quality to the overall feel. Coconut, jasmine, and vanilla all add a lactonic quality, too.
It's not particularly strong for those seeking a noticeable sillage, but I'm happy with it's performance. Given the lactonic qualities, I think it's best suited to temperate weather or the spring/fall shoulder seasons. In the heat of July, it's not my go-to.
Blood Orange & Basil
It's reminds me specifically of the sweet, orange-scented Loreal Kids 2-in-1 shampoo, the one that's shaped like a fish with a funny eyeball. It was a popular kids shampoo in the USA during the 90s/2000s, so I don't think everyone will have the same association, but that's all I get from this fragrance.
It's not bad at all, but not the fresh, basil-forward scent I had imagined it to be.
It's not bad at all, but not the fresh, basil-forward scent I had imagined it to be.
Vanille Leather
This has grown on me, and I like the cozy vanilla with leathery depth. But I really, really can’t shake the violet. And no one’s really speaking to it either in the reviews, so it must be just me. I don’t know if it’s the violet alone or in combination with the leather, but there are times where it reminds me of a …. dry…old… hard candy. The sort of texture like a Smarties in the US, that crumbles to dust if you bit it. It can even be a bit nauseating if I overspray.
Luckily, the creaminess of the vanilla and the “new shoe” scent of the leather all offer an overall pleasant wear. I come back to sample it every so often, but then I’m reminded why it’s not really for me. Rouge Smoking is much more my speed.
Luckily, the creaminess of the vanilla and the “new shoe” scent of the leather all offer an overall pleasant wear. I come back to sample it every so often, but then I’m reminded why it’s not really for me. Rouge Smoking is much more my speed.
