7 Fragrances in 7 Days
One week. One amazing exploration into more fragrances
Over the course of the holidays, I might have overdone it with my new perfume interest. In total, I acquired 29 new perfumes. Extreme. I know. I will say that all of these were samples, the majority were from two discovery sets, and three free samples from Arielle Shoshana.
I made two videos on my first impressions of the Marissa Zappas discovery set my mom got me for Christmas and the Dirty & Sticky discovery set from Born To Stand Out that I got myself. Both of the videos are down below.
These seven fragrances were a combination of two Narcotica fragrances I got myself as an early present and five samples my cousin got me. I filmed first impressions which can be found on my Instagram and YouTube. I have included links to the fragrances for you to purchase.
Day 1: Be My Cookie by BTSO
I had heard of this fragrance for the polarizing reviews. On one hand there were some that attested it to be the most beautiful gourmand fragrance ever. On the other hand were reviews saying it smelled like leather, gasoline and excrement. After buying the Dirty & Sticky discovery set from the brand and liked the majority of them, I decided to include this one to my christmas wishlist that my cousin bought me. Curiosity killed the cat but what was the worst thing that could happen to me? I could either smell like a chocolate chip cookie or like I had been exploring the human digestive system with Ms. Frizzle. A chance I was willing to take.
In the end it was a little bit of both. The opening of this is citrusy fruity smell, which I assume is the sourness of the raspberry top not. The chocolate smell is immediate. This fragrance doesn’t smell like any other chocolate chip cookie. It is not warm and intoxicating like a freshly baked one. The immediate connotation is that of Chips Ahoy original formula cookie except this recipe has the inclusion of nuts, spices and something off. I haven’t seen this mentioned that much but there is a maple syrup smell to it. Not the good kind but the kind that you get and taste over your pancakes that ruins your excitement for breakfast. I don’t find it coincidental how the smell of maple syrup can be mistaken for urine. While I don’t necessarily smell urine or excrement there is something I cannot describe other than off that never left even when sprayed on the skin.
Despite this experience, this curious cat is still alive and well. I plan on wearing this out and layering a basic vanilla under it with hopes of masking whatever is rotten from within it.
You can find Be My Cookie at luckyscent, scentsplit, and arielle shoshana.
Day 2: Happy Dust by Narcotica
Happy Dust stalked by dreams with its three tiered vanilla notes after I passed over it for Doza and Dulce Diablo. The minute I excluded it from my cart I had regret so I had extreme excitement when I was able to get a sample for Christmas. However, the excitement turned into disappointment during my first impressions. My expectations did not meet reality however, after trying it out for a week that doesn’t necessarily mean it's bad. What I was smelling was hard to comprehend. It was sweet, fresh and vanilla like. I didn’t know what to make of it.
Now I view the fragrance like a dance in my head. The musky vanilla dances in sync with a fresh greenness in the background of a sweet tropical forest. Everything about it is light which I attribute to my initial confusion. Over time the ambery sandalwood melts with the vanilla.
In the dead of winter, I do find that I favor perfumes that bring solace in the deadness of winter. However, this one is just too light, green and tropical for me to enjoy it just now. That just means I have so much anticipation to wear in the next couple of months.
You can find Happy Dust at luckyscent and scentsplit.
Day 3: Nota Loca by Ulyka Parfums
Nota Loca was very nostalgic. It sounds crazy to say that something I smelled had a taste but this one did. Nota Loca tastes like the wonka nut hard tropical candies I enjoyed as a child. From this it is obvious that the tropical, fruity and sweet notes. Out of all the fragrances I’ve tried, this one’s sweet notes are the most like sugar. Ulyka perfume combines this sweet fruity scent with aquatic freshness creating an image of a tropical island you almost feel transported there. There isn’t much difference between the initial spray and the dry down.
You can find Nota Loca at luckyscent and scentsplit.
Day 4: Love Me Latte by Narcotica
Love Me Latte is a quintessential gourmand fragrance for me. I came into this scent with great expectations from fellow fragrance lovers online. I wore this scent on Christmas. Wouldn’t it be befitting to wear such a beloved fragrance on a beloved day? Like Nota Loca this had a very true to notes impression. If you want to be noticed, this is the fragrance. Someone around me thought there was a freshly baked cake around but it was just me. It was an explosion of a milky sweetness, rich caramel and fruitiness. I was surprised how even days after wearing the scent was still on my sweater given Happy Dust’s quick disappearance.
You can find Love Me Latte at luckyscent and scentsplit.
Day 5: Doza by Narcotica
Doze by Narcotica felt like a wild card. The initial spay is very leathery and fruity in a bitter way. I could also tell the staying power would be more than Happy Dust.If I thought Happy Dust was slightly inconceivable at first try, it pales in comparison to this. The dry down is better as it leaves a sweet woody boozy scent on the skin. Out of the Narcotica fragrances I have tried so far this is the most unisex of the bunch. Despite its strongness I do think it would complement fruity, vanilla, boozy, and musky scents if paired with them.
You can find Doza at luckyscent and scentsplit.
Day 6: Orgasmo
Is a fruity almondy milkshake the scent version of an orgasm? To the Italian perfumer, Hilde Soliani, it just might be. The notes are simple, amaretto and almonds, and that reflects in the fragrance. The booziness of the amaretto doesn’t come through. The ingredients of the Italian liqueur are often almonds and peach stones which is where the light fruity scent comes from. To me there is an overwhelming lactonic element to this perfume and the closest thing I liken it to is a milkshake but that isn’t to suggest it is overly sweet or vanilla. It's amazing how two notes come together to create such an effect. Hilde Solani has two other variations of this scent, Orgasmo Mint and Orgasmo Jasmine, which I am excited to try eventually.
You can find Orgasmo at luckyscent and scentsplit.
Day 7: Dulce Diablo by Narcotica
Dulce Diablo translates to sweet devil. This is a concise description for a rich complex fragrance. Out of the seven, this is my favorite. I hope to get a larger sample and eventually a full bottle. Narcotics has managed to transform a philadelphia valentines chocolate covered cream candy into a perfume. Behind the sweetness is a deep warmth filled with spicy woody scent. This scent is much more fruity than I initially imagined given the balance of the notes. Apricot within the top notes and dried apricot in the middle notes and yet to my nose this scent resembles its cousin in the genus, a peach. The boozy woody dry down, evident in the cognac, rum, sandalwood and musk notes, ensures this fragrances differentiation from other fruity scents. I most enjoy scents that dance between sweet and musky in these winter months. Since Dulce Diable is both sugar and spice, I don’t think it will be too sweltering in warmer months as some sweet fragrances are. However, I first tried this in late December and am writing this in January. Only time will tell. If I am lucky, time will tell me more reasons to love this fragrance.
You can find Dulce Diablo at luckyscent and scentsplit.
Ranking
Dulce Diablo
Nota Loca
Love me Latte
Orgamso
Happy Dust
Doza
Be My Cookie
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