Lumikettu

I would like to take you on a journey in this review, from how Luna went from "not my type" to my beloved signature scent.

My real fragrance journey started a year ago and has been very intense since then. My scents were always fruity, sweet, gourmand. I couldn't relate to fresh, lemony, or floral at all. Early on in the journey, I discovered a "Discovery Set" from "Penhaligon's." "No idea what this is supposed to be, but it looks so pretty! Let's give it a try!" During the first test, not a single fragrance appealed to me. No, what is this? They all somehow smell like aftershave?...

Fast forward: 3 months. All Escada fragrances have moved out, and only one "gourmand" (and that’s debatable) remains in my collection. What happened? I felt like I had made a huge fragrance transformation in just 3 months. Several niche fragrances were tested, and I was still searching for "the one." In real life, I was in the final phase of my studies - my thesis. And I was stuck. I needed inspiration and remembered the discovery set in the cupboard, the one that looked so pretty! I unpacked it and intuitively reached for Luna and sprayed. And smelled. And smelled again. And was enchanted. Suddenly, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever smelled!

I perceived:
Gentle bergamot that doesn’t sting like a monastery stone but gently offers a freshness. Rose, elegantly draped next to the juniper berry, which gives it a certain "sparkle" like gin and tonic (but dry and not as pronounced as in Juniper Sling) and then for me, the star of the fragrance - balsam fir. It gives the scent a natural base, something that simply grounds you.
Luna is pure elegance for me, very down-to-earth. An understatement that simply lets you dream.

I was in love. I immediately organized a larger bottle of the fragrance and wore it every day while I completed my milestone studies.
After I finished, I traveled to my partner in England. There, I had the chance to sniff all the fragrances at Penhaligon's, and not only was I in love with Luna, but he was too. So he quickly grabbed the last bottle on the shelf and bought it. "Here, for completing your milestone. Be proud of yourself."

And I am proud of myself, and I am glad that I discovered Luna.
If someone asks me, "Which fragrance could you wear every day without getting annoyed?" or "For which fragrance have you received the most compliments?" then Luna Eau de Toilette is my beloved signature scent, my cherished understatement, and my faithful companion.

(By the way, we have both become huge fans of Penhaligon's, as you can see from my collection.)

Zen was a stroke of luck. A blind swap.
I was looking for a summer fragrance and ended up with the perfect all-rounder.

Zen is fruity, fresh, elegant, and smells neither too overpowering nor too boring.
Zen is just right.

Whether for shopping, at the office, at a family gathering, at a wedding, in a job interview, or just comfortably at home - Zen fits in everywhere and won't stand out negatively. The scent is unique. It smells expensive, elegant, and noble, but also fruity, fresh, and simply brings good vibes. When I wear Zen, I look forward to every breeze that carries the scent to my nose. I feel absolutely confident and just can't get enough of it! I wouldn't mind smelling Zen every day. Or smelling AFTER Zen every day. It is the perfect signature scent, all-rounder, and loyal companion at any time of day or night.

While I see Zen more in the warm months due to its fruity "sweetness," which is absolutely not sticky, it wouldn't bother me in winter either! Some people mention that it doesn't have good longevity on them. Luckily, I can't say that. When I spray it on in the morning, it lasts the entire workday. And for the price, I have no problem reapplying it in the afternoon to experience the magic again.

Unfortunately, the bottle is not particularly beautiful, which is why it stands a bit "hidden" behind other bottles on my shelf, but that really should be considered "complaining at the highest level."

Zen doesn't make a big scent evolution on me. It starts and remains fruity, with a lot of pineapple and peach. The floral heart notes come through for me after just a few minutes, but they play more of a "supporting role." The main role remains the mature, noble fruit. In the dry down, the cedarwood comes through, but the fruit remains present here as well. Fortunately, I don't perceive the incense in Zen at all. It is cheerful, fresh, confident, noble, and a "good mood scent."


In my opinion, Zen works for every age group, every style, and every occasion:

One for All, indeed.

Shiseido says about the Ginza line that they tried to represent the Tokyo district of Ginza in a perfume. At first sniff, that’s exactly what I get. To explain why this fragrance holds a very special place in my heart and smells not only of Japan but also of Africa, I need to take you on a journey...

In my closet, there were only gourmands, but for my first trip to Africa in the summer heat, I needed something fresher. I couldn’t imagine smelling of caramel or milk in the high temperatures!
At the last minute, I searched for a summery perfume.
Everything floral was too boring, everything fruity too loud. It has always been like that for me. My nose was simply blind to the nuances in floral scents; everything smells the same. And fruity scents often suffocate me in a youthful sweetness.

And then there was Ginza Murasaki sitting on the shelf, in a corner, quite inconspicuous... floral, but not boring. Fruity, but not overly sweet. Somehow grown-up yet playful.
I was taken with it from the first sniff. Price-wise, Murasaki is not a big challenge, so I took the 30ml bottle to the checkout without much thought, and shortly after, I was off to Africa.

Since Ginza Murasaki was my only summer fragrance, I wore it every day there. I didn’t even have another perfume with me! (I don’t usually know myself like that...)
While exploring in Cape Town, at the "Cape of Good Hope," even "in the bush" in Mpumalanga at "God's Window," a breeze of Ginza Murasaki kept coming my way, my companion on a grand adventure... Again and again, the sweet, fruity note that I had bought without much thought.... And again and again, I was more than satisfied with my choice. Murasaki was everything I had been missing in floral-fruity scents.
It was the perfect fragrance for my exciting journey to the other side of the world.

It is loud, but it doesn’t shout at me. It is fruity sweet, but not sticky and: It doesn’t smell like every other one.
For me, Ginza Murasaki is adventure and exploration, but also sitting by the pool and watching the African sunset with a glass of rosé.
A versatile scent that now personally smells not only of Tokyo but also of South Africa for me.

After receiving a sample of Ginza, I didn't expect much. I usually don't like floral scents, but I sprayed it on anyway - I wasn't planning on going anywhere that day. However, something about Ginza was different from other floral fragrances... Ginza smelled really good!

Fresh, somehow with depth, just like I imagined a walk among magnolia trees would be. The blossoms, the tree trunks, and the fresh air - everything is in Ginza.

I didn't think long and bought a bottle, it's not particularly expensive.
Included in the package: a sample of Ginza Murasaki. What can I say, that one also made it into my collection.
My conclusion: I like the Ginza DNA.
Ginza and Murasaki: the only floral perfumes for me.

When I tested Alibi in the perfume store, it wasn't "love at first scent." I left the shop empty-handed, had some errands planned, and kept asking myself, "What smells so good?!" Of course! Alibi.
So I went back to the store, the saleswoman had already guessed it, and took Alibi home.
Since then, I wear it very often. It is sweet - but not too girly, enveloping you in a gourmand cloud and smelling simply delicious.
Unfortunately, it only lasts about 4 hours on me and its sillage isn't exactly impressive. Alibi doesn't bring me compliments, but it doesn't have to. For me, it is a "feel-good scent" that works anytime, especially when it's colder outside or when you're snuggling up in a blanket.