Hazeljoy

What a gorgeous scent. I went in to try out BR-540, and was disappointed by the hype. Then, I tried Gentle Fluidity Gold and was in love. I blew through a 3ml decant within about a week and had to order a 35ml. It's a really lovely, smooth, and balanced Vanilla to my nose. There is sweetness, but also warm spiciness (maybe the nutmeg and coriander seeds?), and then something cooler and refreshing in the distance (perhaps the woods and juniper berries?). It is sweet and feminine, with just the right level of complexity to make it feel sophisticated and elegant rather than like an overly young and girly gourmand. It feels confident, beautiful, and overall well-blended. I've gotten a lot of positive comments from my husband on this one.

I think this would make a nice signature if you are a big fan of vanilla fragrances as it seems to work well in most seasons and situations. With thoughtful spraying, I think it would be acceptable in the workplace, but it also works perfectly for leisure and events. There is a cosiness to this fragrance that makes it lovely in cooler weather, but I also found it has a freshness that was lovely on warm days too. I surprisingly found it pleasant and inoffensive while wearing it on a sunny 4-hour hike up a mountain.

It seems to stick around well enough, it would probably last me ~6 hours or so until it becomes closer to a skin scent, but I might top up with a travel sprayer if I want the projection/sillage to be on the stronger side. 2-3 sprays is average for me with most fragrances. With GFG I find myself generally aiming for 3, but 4 if I'm really hoping to make it last for a night out. I also tend to try to get a bit in my hair and clothes as it lasts a lot better this way.

I don't think this fragrance is particularly challenging, I think it's just a really well-executed vanilla that a lot of people will enjoy. It's not a fragrance that screams for attention, it's not a fragrance that takes you on a journey or leaves you stunned by its uniqueness, but it is definitely not basic. It's poised and put-together, but still somehow feels effortless.

This is one of my favourites from what I've sampled from Frater. It starts with a moment of that caramelised sugar-ambrox/ambergris style base that is in the vein of MFK Baccarat Rouge 540. BUT! Just before you start feeling like it's another simple clone of that style, those top notes hit the nose - a spicy/green/herbal combo that steers you off on a new journey. I definitely notice the wintergreen. These top notes are a little less feminine than the base, balancing out that sweetness in a really interesting way. I often find fragrances to turn very sweet on me, so this balance was very appreciated. Don't get me wrong, it's 100% still a sweet and sugary fragrance (as it should be with the name!), but I do find it more interesting to unpack as it dries down than other perfumes in this style. I can't pick out the florals distinctly, but they are present, rounding out the scent profile.

I had sampled BR-540 a week earlier, and although I thought it was well-executed, it didn't wow me enough to want to wear it. Candy Mouth has more interest to my nose. If you're looking for something that touches on that general sugary style, but with a distinctly different approach, this may be a great option. I find myself sniffing my wrist frequently when wearing it just to enjoy the journey of the fragrance's development. A friend of mine wore this home and told me the first thing her partner said was "WOW you smell GOOD!".

To me this feels youthful, but not too young. I'd guess still wearable for an early 20s woman, but maybe more at home for a woman in her mid-late 20s and into her 30s/onward. Definitely traditionally feminine-leaning, but the top notes seem like they would give it a unisex ability. Longevity seems solid - probably above average. I've only worn 1-2 sprays at a time while testing (from one of their sample sprayers, which has a great atomiser for a sample!) and it does stick around and project well. I could definitely see it being one you might accidentally overspray and find overwhelming (especially in hotter weather or for exercise), so I see myself wearing it more regularly in autumn/winter. I (F27) would wear this as a special event fragrance - dates and evenings definitely, maybe brunch catch-ups and weekend errands if sprayed with care.

I would like this in my collection eventually, however, it'll definitely be a splurge for me when the time comes. I wish they had smaller sizes, as a 100ml bottle would be a mission for me to get through. Their samples are a great price, so I highly recommend trying those first rather than blind-buying!

I never really jived with fig scents til I gave this one a shot. I also found green scents abrasive and couldn't understand why anyone would be drawn to them. The first time I smelled Debaser I just didn't get it. It was all green and sharp and reminded me of chemicals - like someone below also pointed out - a touch of nail polish remover or thinner, maybe? Despite that, I ended up taking it home on a paper strip to try to give it a fair chance. As it settled over the course of the day, I could understand it a bit more. It felt like an acquired taste, something I had to will myself to appreciate.

A month or so later I bought the DS & Durga Greatest Hits set - more so to try Radio Bombay and I Don't Know What, but I soon found myself in love with wearing Debaser and chewed through that sample far too quickly before caving and getting a 50ml. I started being able to identify the fig more, and appreciate the greenness. I think it helped that my skin does tend to sweeten and soften a lot of fragrances. The fig note simultaneously feels juicy/sweet, but also fresh and green - like both the fruit and the stems/leaves. After a wear or two I started getting the iris and coconut milk - It's not a tropical feeling coconut to me, and it doesn't feel overpowering like the coconuts you can get in cheap/juvenile fragrances, self-tanners, and sunscreens. It adds a creamy smoothness that counters the sharp green in the opening. The base is woody and musky, but none of those notes have jumped out at me. To me, this fragrance is about the green/juicy/creamy combo.

I think this works in any season, but I've been really enjoying it for something different to my usual light and pretty florals in spring. I quite like this one for work, or out, day or night, wearing a leather jacket. I don't feel like it travels an offensive distance from me and it feels quite tidy. I don't see myself getting a ton of compliments on it - I think it probably doesn't hook people in at the first sniff like a lot of my sweeter or floral fragrances do. I enjoy that this scent feels less people-pleasing (though clearly it's appreciated enough to be popular!), and more for myself - it makes me feel cool, put-together, and confident. I still love the journey it takes me on from first spray to dry-down. It doesn't last crazy long on my skin but does stick around on my clothes til the next day (though it doesn't project at this point).

It's nice to layer too - DS & Durga's I Don't Know What creates a more complex base that I really enjoy. Debaser maybe leans slightly masculine-unisex on me, so when I want to still feel badass but also a bit more feminine, I'll spritz a tiny bit of Frederic Malle's En Passant (a beautiful soft spring floral) over top - the greens in these two play well together for me.

Honestly, I can see why people wouldn't like this - it's not a compliment-getter or always easy to love (especially in that green opening). But I think it can create an air of confidence to be wearing something this interesting. If you already like green figgy scents, I do recommend it. I think it's added a lot to my collection and given me a new appreciation for fragrance notes I couldn't wrap my head around. If you're unsure but intrigued, give it a few tries on the skin - it may end up being what your collection was missing.

Erba Pura was my wedding perfume in Feb 2023, so I acknowledge I'll be a little biased given the memory associations.

I love the way Erba Pura develops. It starts with an incredible, vibrant and sparkling orange. I fell in love from the first sniff because of this orange and just KNEW it was the one, it feels so realistic and uplifting. I love Xerjoff's citrus notes. I can't pinpoint any other specific fruits aside from the citrus, but it is super juicy and fruity. Then there is the more divisive animalic/musky base that comes through more and more as it wears. Completely get why some dislike it. It's strong and maybe a touch synthetic, but seems to work well with my personal body chemistry. To me and my husband, this muskiness is just sexy. Not specifically feminine or masculine sexy, there's just something about it - a mix of sweetness and something alllmost off, that comes out nicely balanced on my skin and to my nose. Totally accept that it's a divisive smell, but I wear this scent purely for my husband and me, so I'm not bothered. I love how this scent goes from bright and sparkling to sexy over the course of an evening - it perfectly captured both the fun and celebratory moments, and the more romantic and intimate moments of our wedding day.

I chose it partially because of its absolutely beastly performance. I wanted something that would last the entire day and project enough that both my husband and I could form scent memories of the day/our honeymoon with it. It definitely worked - I reserve this one for our special dates now, and every time I wear it my husband excitedly exclaims "You smell like my WIFE!". Honestly, this one lingers so long that I wouldn't be surprised if my wedding dress still smells softly of that musky dry-down months later! I also liked that it didn't feel particularly old or young - I'd like to be able to re-wear it on anniversaries for many years and never feel like I've outgrown it. It's also nicely unisex to me.

I think this one is too powerful/divisive to wear casually during the day, but I love it for special occasions. I've enjoyed Erba Pura in every season since my wedding. My wedding was in (NZ) summer and I think it wasn't too much in the heat - in fact, the fruitiness felt perfect for summer. But I will note that where I am, 25-30 degrees celsius is usually a hot summer day for us. In warmer climates or with more humidity, I could understand if the heaviness of the musk didn't work.

It's definitely a scent you should test - and not just on paper, but on skin, over several wears in different situations/temperatures. And if you love this scent, don't be put off by the divided reviews - just wear it with care for those around you, and enjoy it. If it works well for you, it's definitely a treasure - I haven't smelt anything else quite like it!

I first tried this while searching for my wedding perfume. It made it to my top 2 options, before losing out to Xerjoff Erba Pura. I ended up with a full bottle anyway after being obsessed with smelling the empty decant!

To me, this is a super pretty and feminine tuberose with a subtle animalic base. If Frederic Malle's Carnal Flower had a much younger sister, maybe this would be it? While Carnal Flower is much more complex and feels like a magnetic, sensual, and confident woman, Narcotic V feels like a bright, youthful woman. Still with an air of magnetic, sexy and confident, but also maybe still discovering herself. I've seen a lot of comments saying it's linear, and I totally see why, but in my opinion, it still has a lot more interest and depth than the very linear designer fragrances of my early 20s. I (F27) get a lot of compliments on this one, and it's the scent that most of my friends gravitate towards in my collection when they want to borrow a scent to wear for an evening (hurts my wallet every time though..)

A friend of mine has worn Nasomatto Baraonda as a signature for a number of years, and my husband and I both noticed that it did remind us of that friend, so I could see there being something shared between the two scents (a musk maybe?). They are very, very different scents, however.

Longevity and projection are surprisingly good! I'll often get compliments when people come in for a quick hug or stand close by, and it does linger a fair bit on my skin, hair, and clothes til the next day. I tend to use around 3 sprays for this one if I want it to really last, which is pretty good.

I wear this when I want to feel confident and feminine. It works for me all year round, mainly for dates and evening events - I think it can be lovely for daytime (spring especially!) as long as you use a bit less, though I could see it not being great for some work environments. I prefer to keep it for more important occasions so I don't run through it too fast - it's one of the pricier scents I own per ml!