prattleplate

Oh no... I could tell I made a mistake as soon as I sprayed this :(

I really enjoy the OG Dream so I thought I'd give this a try. It has nothing to do with Dream whatsoever.

I don't usually pay too much attention to the advertised notes in inexpensive perfumes, but all I'm getting from this is a weak pink pepper on a sickeningly sweet, unpleasantly artificial base. Somehow it leans unisex.

It's more hand-wash or car air freshener than perfume.

Immediately after spraying: unfamiliar, sharp and strange, bordering on unpleasant. This settles in a couple of minutes, then it becomes waxy. I personally am not familiar with orris butter or carrot in fragrances. To my inexperienced nose the waxiness is reminiscent of shea butter, without the smokiness.

After another 10-20 minutes, it reminds me of accidentally getting a facefull of glitter hairspray before leaving for a childhood birthday party. Not regular hairspray, the glitter hairspray that only came out for parties and halloween (this is an important distinction in my mind!). Somewhere in the background there is briefly a little pile of pencil crayon shavings.

It probably sounds like I'm not having a good time, but I'm obsessed.

Musky, and powdery to a certain extent, but I'm not rummaging around in a makeup bag. I am, in the absolute best way possible, sneaking into an auntie or grandma's bedroom, smelling a lipstick on the dresser, wondering if it might contain something poisonous, and applying it anyway.

I perceive Violet Ida as a comforting and mature scent seen through the eyes of a girl, which is what makes it slightly strange.

The dry down is surprisingly sweet (how could this sweetness have been hiding behind that opening??) and spicy. Moderate projection at the midway point, then after 3hrs into skin scent on me, but I don't mind this at all.

Violet Ida was a blind buy for me - I should know better - but I'm so glad I got this as it is now discontinued and I don't have anything else like it.

NB: My bottle isn't purple, it's clear with a white label, but I checked the batch code with the brand who confirmed its legit and that the later runs came in clear glass.

This perfume holds a special place in my heart, I got it for Christmas in 2017 and wore it til I was absolutely sick of it. After a break, I came back and I still love her.

I can't make out any of the individual notes listed. To me, this is a powerful dry / musky floral, the kind that almost scratches the nose, with just a hint of fruitiness. The dry down is synthetic (not necessarily in a bad way) - very clean, almost like dryer sheets or fabric softener with a slight sweetness.

You only need a couple of sprays! I have definitely been guilty of overspraying this in the past. On my skin it lasts all day, multiple days (and sometimes after a wash) on my clothes. I can see it being overpowering for some.

To me, Issey Miyake Pleats Please is a close cousin of Dream (not a dupe but scratches the same itch in my brain).

Lives up to its name - jasmine tea with grape. Like a fruit tea from a fancier bubble tea shop - nicely balanced, not too sweet.

I was pleasantly surprised by how prominent the grape note is without being artificial, and it lasts into the dry down. Perfect for a summer day!

Lasts most of the day (6 hours or so) on my skin.

I bought a decant, but a full bottle is going on my wish list.

I was surprised by how realistic the pear is in the opening, it's like a glass of cold pear juice! This is a natural pear scent, not sugary or gourmand at all.

Moves on quickly to fancy pear shampoo, then into fancy shampoo. Dries down fully as a lovely clean and light musk with just a hint of fruitiness.

I applied this 9 hours ago, and I can still smell it on both skin and clothes. Sillage is moderate at first then intimate - I can smell this up close and I get the occasional waft when my clothes move.

I can see myself getting a full bottle after finishing my decant - this is perfect for spring and summer and good for the office.