MaryAda

I really like rhubarb as a fragrance and I was expecting a lot from this fragrance with rhubarb and custard in the title. My high expectations were only partially fulfilled.

I can actually smell the rhubarb, most clearly in the first few minutes. After that, the rhubarb is very much framed by citrusy notes and no longer stands out quite so clearly.
In addition to the sourness, the fragrance also clearly has a sweetness. However, I cannot identify this sweetness as vanilla or pastry.
Rhubarb with vanilla sauce is not necessarily what I perceive overall. After a few minutes, the sweet and sour base note is joined by something tart. It's not clearly tobacco, but it definitely goes in that direction. Hay is listed among the fragrance notes and yes, that also somehow matches what I perceive here.

The fragrance is easily perceptible and long-lasting. These are definitely positive points. Otherwise, I am rather disappointed with the fragrance. Sweet and sour, plus citrus and tobacco - somehow the different scents don't really go together for my nose.

The combination of sweet vanilla and citrus notes is right on trend. Vanilla Devotion picks up on this trend. However, this is not the only fragrance that goes in this direction that Zara has in its portfolio.

When I read the fragrance notes, it was clear that I wanted to try Vanilla Devotion, because the combination of sweet vanilla plus citrusy notes is extremely appealing to me. I was also curious to see if it was similar to the Zara fragrance A Sweet Pastry In Paris, which I have owned for a few years and love very much. In any case, the fragrance notes described are very similar.

After my test, I can say that the two fragrances are not very similar. The fragrance notes are very different in both fragrances. Vanilla Devotion is characterized by a very sweet, somehow heavy vanilla. Somehow "buttery" too, come to think of it. The citrusy notes barely soften the sweetness and remain very much in the background. I'm sure that Vanilla Devotion contains orange blossom, even if Zara doesn't list it as a fragrance note.

Unlike A Sweet Pastry In Paris, Vanilla Devotion doesn't smell like a freshly baked lemon cake to me. I don't get that association, the citrus doesn't come out enough.
In any case, when I tested it, I immediately realized that the fragrance reminded me of another fragrance, namely Devotion by Dolce & Gabbana. I find the similarity very strong.

Personally, I find the vanilla in Zara's Vanilla Devotion a little too "heavy", just like in Dolce & Gabbana's Devotion. But that's my personal opinion and doesn't change the fact that Zara has once again launched a great, balanced gourmand fragrance with very good longevity.

The fragrance notes sounded sooo good to me. Fresh and aquatic, slightly fruity and green, a nice light scent for the summer.
Unfortunately, my expectations were not met. Yes, it is a fresh green summer fragrance. But something really bothers me. For me, one fragrance note stands out, which is sour (which I like in itself) and bitter at the same time. I don't know which of the listed fragrance notes I can assign this to, but it really bothers me massively.

Fortunately, I only bought one bottle and didn't dare make a blind purchase, because unfortunately this won't be my new summer fragrance.

This is one of those fragrances where I like all the scents that are listed, and I don't like them together as much as I expected.

But first of all, what do I perceive at all: vanilla and lavender dominate for me. I don't notice cocoa clearly and ginger doesn't obviously creep into my nose either.
I liked it when I first sniffed it and even now I can't say I don't like it. And yet it doesn't suit me. To be honest, the fragrance annoys me. It's too sweet for me - which is actually not possible, because I love sweet fragrances!
No, I'm sorry, this combination of vanilla and lavender doesn't work for me.
Were my expectations too high? Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact that the fragrance doesn't manage to sneak into my heart.
Nevertheless, I can understand why many people like it, because it has a certain straightforwardness and simplicity that I also appreciate in fragrances. The fragrance is also super long-lasting.

Too bad it doesn't work with us.

Today I tested the new Zara Shades fragrances. Although it's not necessarily my favorite of the range, my fingers are itching to write something about Zara Shades Bliss.

First of all: the longevity is good, it's not a fragrance beast, but at least it's still perceptible after hours.

The interesting thing for me about the fragrance is the association I have from start to finish. Well, almost from the beginning, because in the first few minutes I found it very meaningless, rather flowery, which doesn't appeal to me personally. But after a few minutes, the fragrance suddenly reminded me of a certain sweet. I had to do some research first, because I hadn't eaten it for a long time: Haribo confectionery, those liquorice ones that are wrapped in such a sweet mass of whatever.
For me, Zara Shades of Bliss smells one-to-one like Haribo confectionery. I detect a slight hint of licorice, but the dominant scent is that sweet mass.

To be honest, this makes the fragrance really interesting for me. Even if it's not one hundred percent to my taste and I would probably never wear it, it's a fragrance that I simply love to sniff.