Diode

Don't expect a typical frangipani flower scent, it's not. It's much more almondy. Frangipani oil is listed as ingredient, and I would say it's what gives it its very rich, sultry side. It's like a good match between exotic flowers (but without going towards the sun lotion path; I don't really get ylang-ylang, luckily) and ground almond with sugar (what is used in bakery). It doesn't smell like anything I tried before. It's quite additive actually. It does last all day but becomes a skin scent after 4-5 hrs on my skin.

Very peppery opening. Almost no sweetness, it's harsh, bitter, dry. There is something almost too synthetic. Two hours later it's much better. But it's still to dry for me. Three hours later it's even better. Creamy, sweet, but bright and fresh at the same time. Projection is good. It's too bad that you need to "wait" for so long before it becomes pleasant.

Fresh, floral, bright scent. Ever so slightly tart, like rhubarb (After reading the notes, I guess that comes from the passionfruit). Sadly the tartness turns sour and bitter/metallic on my skin. The scent is gorgeous on hot and humid days. It's a proper, non offensive, optimistic and joyful fragrance. Maybe a bit too naive?

I came across this perfume randomly in a store, and didn't expect much from it, considering its name that seems to be a disclaimer (as in "We told you it wasn't anything special, in case you don't like it"). But it was pleasant enough that I asked for a sample. It's in the very vein of the Juliette Has a Gun style, the synthetic musky type. It's smell clean, white, but not laundry-like. It's more the cosy smell of skin, but on steroids, pushed to the extreme where I smell almost body odor, or rather something metallic. It would be really nice if not for this background metallic note. It's like the rebel sister/brother of Gap's discontinued perfume "Close", who always has to prove she/he is different even though everyone wonders why they try so hard. The projection is not bad. I can even smell it on my skin after a shower. Even if it's a musky-skin-cosy scent, it's not an everyday scent for me, I have to be in the mood to be "too much" and somewhat unapologetically tasteless. There are days where I find it addictive (until the metallic note comes out), and days where it is just repulsive. It's very overpriced for what it is (though the bottle is pretty). I prefer Gap Close, much more peaceful to my senses.

Wearing La Panthère EDT is being classy and somehow a bit "old school" without smelling dated. It's fresh and floral. Primarily I smell a floral musk but when I put my nose on my skin, I can definitively smell white flowers. There is something almost slightly fruity too, but in a floral way, something like osmanthus. Between the EDT and the EDP, I prefer the EDT, more easy-going and bright. Beware though, it definitively has a strong chypre DNA, so thoose who don't want to smell too "classic", may not like it.