NoraTemple

The new Jo Malone fragrances from Zara had to join my collection as a blind buy (I am a Jo Malone-Zara marketing victim and fan). First came Universal Oud as an absolute Oud charmer of the really good kind. Then the scratchy-biting Leather Jardin (oh dear, that one is intense, let’s see) and this one here, the mandarin incense. I am always on the lookout for incense fragrances and also found one in the metallic-bright L'Orpheline by Serge Lutens (bought at full price and never regretted it).

But this one, I had to write something: Great church incense mixed with zesty grapefruit, not so mandarin-like, but rather pink, fruity, sporty. The incense comes through extremely strong right away, but the fruit competes well, and they work wonderfully together. The Zara website initially listed musk, but the English site mentioned incense. Only two notes reach my nose here: the fruit and the incense. While the smoky note initially competes strongly, the fruit becomes stronger and more bitter (a mandarin would somehow be sweeter, I think). I am shockingly in love and still blown away after hours. I really like Universal Oud, Leather Jardin not so much; UO is more unisex, LJ is quite scratchy for me as a woman. This one, I think, is sporty unisex. I love it. Great incense note on the skin. For comparison, I really only have L'Orpheline as a metallic-bright tone. I find this one clear and bright yet with that slight incense note that is so extremely present in oriental powerhouse fragrances. Lasts long on the skin. So beautiful!

Zara had this fragrance on offer. 10.99 euros. Ok, not a buying argument, but in this case finally a nice hit. Green incense in the forest.
Upon spraying, a bit of fruit, hardly any vanilla, Ambroxan, and incense. In the potpourri, a lot of green, with a somewhat strange conifer green at first (those who garden know what I mean... conifers have their own green, rather unpleasant scent - which fades a bit over time), then the base becomes more incense-like and rounded. Sillage is probably ok, but rather close to the skin. I find this complex brew quite convincing. Dark and foresty, but not unpleasant. Not at all a floral park, but rather green-heavy and mossy.

Clearly reminiscent of Lush Tramp, but much weaker and yet present.

What remains: indeed dark incense, very pleasant (artificial like in Serge Lutens Orpheline). The green remains, no vanilla is left, nothing floral, but rather dark-theatrical.
However, if you want a powerful sillage of such forest incense, you have to go for Lush Tramp, which can sometimes be too overwhelming for me. It needs to be dosed very carefully. This one is easy to spray. For dark moments, unisex, lasts a long time. For me, nothing fruity, nothing floral. The green tint of the substance in the puristic bottle fits. Rather not office-friendly if you are more reserved and colleague-friendly. More of a reminder of the last forest walk with some medicinal undertones. Not an everyday scent with floral lightness.
Song: Cure "A Forest"

"A masterpiece," writes the reviewer before me. I agree. Madness. Yes, Zara truly has surprises in store. There are wonderful fragrances among them, and I will stick with this because I want to go on a journey of discovery.
This scent comes from the Jo Malone collaboration. I tried eight fragrances in the set and must say that I was very positively surprised. Most have impressive longevity, even if you often don't perceive them on the skin. They linger. This fragrance scratched quite a bit upon first application. Probably what one calls "leather" in perfume. I ordered the roll-on and immediately the original bottle (which I hope arrives soon). So I don't know if the spray is amazing, but the roll-on definitely is!
Top notes: Bergamot, lavender. The opening is not even very alcoholic, but rather quite spicy. I couldn't untangle bergamot and lavender; the scent is immediately very aromatic.

The leather comes to the surface and is initially bothersome and scratchy. The "masculine" or typical notes for men's fragrances (iris) emerge, which I, as a feminine woman, quite like (men's fragrances have more punch than floral-fruity "women's fragrances"). This scent is not one-dimensional. It still scratches a bit, but not unpleasantly.

In the end, an amber/oud note remains, which smells very sophisticated and makes a clear statement. What does it remind me of? I have to try the scent again and realize: Even though you know much better than I do, I have Chanel's "Coromandel" EDP and compare both. Zara on the left, the super expensive Chanel piece on the right. Chanel scratches a bit more, but in the end, they resemble each other so much that I almost euphorically start a Zara order. I can hardly see a difference; Chanel is a bit greener, scratchier. But I try it several times. This Zara scent reminds me so strongly that I hardly notice a difference. The base lasts for hours and is vanilla-like, profound. Not cheap at all. What a discovery.

When Coromandel - this still too mature knockout scent for me - runs out, I will repurchase it. But the Zara scent must come into my home. Absolutely top-notch, I am blown away!

Song: David Lynch something soundtrack, simply great. Very good sillage, clearly noticeable. For me, it’s almost more suitable for autumn. Statement. Joy!

This scent comes in a series of blue flacons/designs that are supposed to evoke maritime themes. Alongside the telling fragrances "Holistic Flow" (holistic here is just the simple fruit salad scent) and "Cozy Serenade" (vanilla/orchid bomb), this scent "Mystery Balance" (mysterious balance?!?) is said to contain something like sandalwood, musk, and salty notes.
I write "is said to". Unlike other very fleeting Zara scents, it is not there at all. Where is it? If I catch a molecule with my nose, it seems pleasant. But there is only...nothing...yes, it could be pleasant, because nothing here stinks. But the scent is a complete mystery because it...is nothing.
Could be soft sandalwood, or musk? No lemon, no freshness, no dark scratchiness. Just nothing. Could Zara have forgotten to mix anything into the brew? It will remain a mystery...
I have the 10 ml roll-on. I see liquid inside, but can smell nothing. It could faintly smell of Calone, but please, this is even ridiculous for Zara's fleeting scents. My nose can hardly detect anything here.
Song: Silence...

This Zara fragrance comes in a series of blue bottles/designs that are meant to evoke maritime themes. Here you get a passion fruit salad in orange. Fruit, fruit, fruit. Passion fruit, mandarin, a bit of orange, maracuja. Underneath, a hint of vanilla. Where is the sea? The beach?

The scent is not unpleasant if you want to smell like orange fruit salad. Nice, really delightful. But not more for me. I bought a roll-on (10 ml) and I certainly won't be getting the bottle.

Scent: Like Ice in the Sunshine. The scent of vanilla ice cream with maracuja.