markeisimon

I'm not able to smell this and Hibiscus Mahajád side-by-side; however, from what I can remember, this is a dead ringer. If anything, this is a tad sweeter.

I can sometimes be sensitive to blackcurrant, but paired with the fresh zing of spearmint and spice of cinnamon, it never becomes too syrupy or dense. Funnily enough, I find the leather to be slightly animalic, sexy, and raw. Don't let that scare you if you've never smelled either of these are curious!

This is definitely for the rose lovers who desire a spicy, synthetic, debaucherous rose.

Three words: daring, intimidating, and assured.

Hearing someone on TikTok describe this scent sent me into orbit. I ordered a decant and took my time exploring it, but there is a dampness I can't get past.

No doubt, this is more of a powdery, amber scent than anything, with some green influences and a hum of something subtly sweet in the foreground.

But, savory nut notes (get your mind outta there) are challenging for me, and this is no exception. Something in this smells damp and a little spoiled. The fragrance itself isn't bad; I see the vision, but it just missed the mark.

I will probably revisit somewhere down the line.

Three words: composed, curious, and peculiar.

I always visit Scent Bar Hollywood whenever I'm in LA (only about 3/4 times a year) to reward myself a bottle for landing a gig or reaching a career milestone. I was probably sniffing around for almost an hour, thinking I wanted a starchy, sweet, gourmand scent.

My head reeling with dizziness and defeat from trying over 20 perfumes, I concluded that I wanted something more reminiscent of the winter season, and asked the advisor if he had anything with juniper berry or cedar. That's when he pulled this gem. At first, I was a bit skeptical but proceeded to purchase it anyway because it was the closest scent to what I was looking for, and I didn't want to walk out empty-handed, not knowing when I'd be back.

WOW!

I must have sprayed myself about 10 times throughout the rest of the day/evening.

This smells like a woman who just walked into a holiday party wearing a beautiful form-fitting dark emerald velvet dress and a fur shawl, sipping an amaretto sour. She smells faintly of smoke and powdery iris perfume. Her seductive aura speaks before she can, though her hair is slightly tousled because let's face it, it's the time of night where the party is really getting started.

For the saffron haters (like myself), you'll appreciate that the saffron appears only to help elevate the cherry note, then fades softly into the background after about 10 minutes. The iris is key in helping this sustain a smooth, velvety texture throughout, while the juniper berry lends itself to the sharp, greenness we all know and love. As for the tobacco and frankincense, they're there, but are more supporting characters and help round out the scent's "vibe".

This is definitely a night on the town fragrance for the holiday season. Equisite, lively, and a little naughty.

Three words: hedonistic, reckless, and celebratory.

If you're familiar with this brand, then you probably know their sweet, boozy scent, Casino. However, this evokes more Casino vibes to me. The top notes, along with the leather and sandalwood, remind me of flavoured smoke (think Black-n-Milds), and the heart notes remind me of women gathering around craps and blackjack tables, draped in thin, silky dresses, hoping to be a seemingly rich guy's lucky charm.

The apple and blackcurrant read mildly synthetic, while the orange blossom helps the fragrance maintain its "wearability". The leather is barely animalic--just enough to serve as a juxtaposition to the floral and sweet notes.

This is grown-up and a little, dare I say, sinful. Don't let the name fool you.

When I think of other fragrances that have similar accords/vibes, I think of Smoking Hot and "Turmeric Latte (Perfume) | Lush / Cosmetics To Go".

Three words: lust, pride and greed.

Sweet, but mature and straightforward. Easter morning at a southern Black Church, where all the young women are wearing their best Sunday pastels, and it smells like hairspray and grease, cocoa butter and this.

The macaron, madeleines, and almond biscuits are reminiscent of the treats that you'd have in an Easter basket. The milk and tea invoke morning time. The orange blossom and freesia help "wake" the fragrance up and brighten the overall mood.

As someone who isn't a big white floral fan, this is giving me equal parts creamy gourmand and orange blossom.

Three words: playful, pastel, and delightful.