Unlisted yellow-floral
Bright burst of creamy ylang-ylang and a semi-uplifting musky amber. I know that ylang-ylang isn't listed in the notes, but it was absolutely dominating this scent for me - a quick search later confirms that ylang-ylang oil is listed in the ingredients for this fragrance if not the actual description (are they trying to pass it off as gardenia? hmm).
There's a wisp of jasmine hiding somewhere behind the composition - but my nose is tuning out whatever synthetics they're using VERY quickly, and the whole thing faded down to a muted glow within ten minutes.
Not the vacation I'm looking for
This is Philosykos by Diptyque if someone squinted at Philosykos from a great distance - details gone blurry at the edges, only the broad outlines captured against the sun.
I get a brief hint of that beautiful, refreshing leaf-green-and-fig that Philosykos is known for... before the rest of the scent is dropped into a vat of ISO E Super and/or similar aromachemical, both washing away and drowning any of the promise it originally held. I'll grant that it does have a touch more coconut, but the base is otherwise quite similar.
If it were sold for any value under $100 AUD I'd nod to it as a reasonably acceptable dupe. For $179 AUD for a 55ml? Just go buy the original instead.
If you don't like cumin - sample first!
I really thought I'd love this one, but all I get - ALL I get - from this is cumin. My skin unfortunately amps spice notes, so if there's anything else in here it's well-covered.
It seems to have fans, so I'm sure this is just a me-problem - but for anyone else who dislikes cumin (or other notes in the same family), I highly recommend sampling first!
Seriously, why is lavender not listed
Just calling out that a pretty significant (and noticeable) note in this fragrance has actually been left out of the pyramid above. As per the Glasshouse website this also has lavender - which, combined with the oakmoss, pushes this whole scent closer into more traditional "masculine" fougère territory.
(Lavender is also listed as one of the "key" notes in this as per the discovery set... I'm genuinely surprised that it wasn't captured here).
Definitely not a "green" fragrance
Despite the currently listed accords there's nothing green or citrusy about this. In fact it's rather more as if 'Rose Jam' by Lush (or 'Delina' by PDM) was combined with BR540 - it has the loud jammy rose of the former, bracketed by the spun-sugar musk and saffron of the latter.
Not a dupe of either, it's definitely it's own thing, but the similarities are unmistakable... and it's highly likely to be a crowd-pleaser as a result, considering the popularity of the originals.
(Glasshouse has this listed as a chypre and I truly, truly cannot understand that classification. There is zero oakmoss in this).
