JVD290280

Pafory Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 24

The final door - and yes, that part makes me a little sad. It’s been a good journey.

First impression: a generous rush of sweetness, almost lavish at the start. A brief flash of opulence that fills the air before quickly softening. Within a minute or two, it settles into a gentle cherry accord with light, airy florals around it. Promising. Polished. It feels like it’s about to unfold into something more.

But then it retreats - fast. Seven or eight minutes in, I’m checking my wrist, unsure if it’s still there. It is, but only just. The scent becomes a whisper, more suggestion than statement.

The heart is listed as geranium, rose absolute, and mimosa. I sense florals, but they’re blurred, indistinct. Perhaps rose, maybe a trace of mimosa - but nothing clearly defined. A soft-focus floral haze rather than a composed heart.

The base stays very close to the skin: amber and woods, warm, creamy, softly sweet. Pleasant, comforting - but far too quiet.

For all the hype, and at €270 for 100ml, the performance is simply disappointing. A fragrance at this price needs presence and staying power. This one fades into the background long before it earns its place.

Full review to follow.
More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd

Pafory Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 23

First impression: wow. This is very good. Bold, expressive, instantly skin-grabbing. Also worth saying upfront - the Fragrantica note breakdown doesn’t match either the brand info or what my nose is getting.

Officially, it opens with rosewood, incense, and cumin. On first contact, though, I get something unexpected: a fleeting floral softness, almost tropical, with a hint of coconut and ghostly blossoms that appear and disappear within minutes. Very quickly, the scent clarifies. On skin, it becomes cumin-forward - warm, human - threaded through smooth, polished rosewood, with incense hovering quietly rather than announcing itself. Interestingly, in the air around me, it reads powdery, softly sweet, and floral. On my wrist? Dry spice and wood. Intimate and polished.

The heart is beautifully handled. Jasmine, magnolia, and rose come together effortlessly. The rose isn’t loud or dated - no “old rose” here - but smooth, almost gourmand-leaning, cushioned by powdery magnolia and luminous jasmine. Refined, modern, and effortlessly wearable. A softness you choose to reveal.

The base settles into creamy sandalwood and coconut wrapped in clean musk. Skin-like, comforting, quietly sensual. And despite what some suggest, there’s no leather here for me. Just warmth, creaminess, and the trace of something once close.

Confident. Tactile. Intimate. A scent that rewards patience and close attention.

Full review to follow.
More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd

Pafory Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 22

First impression: a controlled rush. It opens bright and sunlit - pineapple, bergamot, mango - juicy and confident. Just as it starts to settle, the spices cut in. Saffron and nutmeg bring heat and texture, while cypress keeps everything sharp, green, and upright. Energetic, but disciplined. Nothing feels accidental.

The heart is where I hesitate - and where it gets interesting. Violet and hyacinth, notes I usually love for their cool, refined elegance, are pushed up against clove and cumin. Floral meets warm, slightly savoury spice. There’s tension here. A little friction. I’m not fully convinced by the combination, but I can’t deny the pull of that clash - it creates heat, movement, and personality.

The base is the real win. Amber and moss glow softly, grounded by balsam, musk, and a steady thread of vetiver. Skin-like, earthy, quietly sensual. It doesn’t project loudly - it stays close, leaving a polished, confident trail.

This feels like a quiet power play. Low-frequency, controlled, deliberate. A neon secret humming in the dark - slick, heated, slightly disorienting. It doesn’t chase attention or raise its voice. It just sits there, dense and magnetic, pulling you in until the edges soften and you realise you’re already under its spell.

Full review to follow.
More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd

Pafory Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 21

First impression: unapologetically opulent. Thick, syrupy, and heavy from the outset. Saffron - usually a marker of luxury - feels dense here, almost too much, and the orange barely manages to cut through all that sweetness.

As it develops, the heart lightens slightly. Florals begin to emerge, along with a gentle, restrained spiciness that tries to restore some balance. It smooths out, but never quite shakes that rich, plush character.

The drydown settles into sweet musky vanilla and woods, anchored by the resinous depth of labdanum. Polished, warm, and undeniably luxurious - but still firmly on the heavy side.

For me, it’s simply too sweet. It lacks the sharp edge or contrast I tend to look for. Definitely a cold-weather, evening scent - just not one I personally connect with. Sometimes a scent should frame you, not dominate you.

Full review to follow.

More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd

Pafory Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 20

First impression: instant love. A crisp, green burst of grapefruit and cut grass, with flashes of basil. It smells like a garden early in the morning - cool, fresh, alive. Violet peeks through almost immediately, adding a soft elegance to all that greenery. Clean, vibrant, and effortlessly uplifting. One of those openings that just works.

The heart leans into violet - smooth, confident, quietly structured - supported by subtle florals and a growing thread of vetiver. Balanced and natural, never trying too hard.

The drydown is where it really wins me over. Vetiver takes centre stage: elegant, earthy, and beautifully calm. It’s softened by clean musk, with a faint trace of incense and a gentle clove spice giving it depth without heaviness.

Addictive. Sophisticated yet grounded. Comfortingly familiar too - no surprise, really. It sits somewhere between the modern clarity of Bois Impérial and the timeless, polished earthiness of Grey Vetiver.

Full review to follow.
More scent stories and visuals on Instagram - @lavendercloudsjd