07/10/2020
Elysium
815 Reviews
Elysium
1
Forbidden Blossom Extremely Close to Skin
I don't like to start a review with controversy, but I feel I want to express an opinion. The perfume is subjective, one may or may not like it, but honestly, I don't understand such a low rate for this fragrance. I believe that it deserves a higher rating, but I respect others' thoughts, and indeed, they will have had a valid reason to assign such a miserable 3.0 the moment I am writing this. That said, let's move the discussion towards ZARA Cotton Kiss, which belongs to the new "Shades of Collection" 2020, labeled as delicate and present. The perfume is purportedly sold as a female. It is on the shelves of the women's department, but as we will have the opportunity to discover its aromas are quite different that feminine despite the presence of fruity and powdery notes. It is a unisex fragrance, no question about it, and among the four pieces of the same collection, I suppose this is the one I like most. Thus, it does not go into the escalation of floral flavors, nor in the excessive power of a woody wake.
First, I affirm that this scent is not new in the sense that had already been launched last year, in 2019, with the same name and notes but belonging to "The Improbable" collection, classified as 003. Cotton Kiss's new bottle is the same as its siblings Coral Cassis, Santal Glow, and Mimosa Cloud, box and bottle come in dark pinks color, and the juice is all about musks, here smelling as cottony and charming as they are, fluffy and dank. I treasure the smell of ambrette seeds, the absolute extract comes from hibiscus flowers, and its notes are so damn addictive, creamy, sweet, fruity like pear and plum, and slightly animal breath. It is a vegetal musk, far away from the oakmoss, the synthetic white musk, or the animal deer's musk. Just to give you an idea, Cotton Kiss is the same ballpark as n° 18 Chanel or Ambrette Le Labo.
About the smell, once it touches my skin, the aroma is subdued and light, yet I instantly get the musky accord of the ambrette, highlighted with iris and pear. Ambrette and iris go together well, as in B. by Balenciaga, my beloved. The first accord smells like the best clean skin I can imagine, so natural that one who is sitting next to you might think you have a fantastic and attractive natural skin odor. In this initial stage, it is slightly carroty as if aldehydes mingle, not too much but detectable, and the musk is fruity, the synthetic pulpy pear accord aids that feeling.
The Cotton Kiss has the nostalgic musks in the heart, which are soft, velvety, light, and a feather, like the muslin cloths. Its notes smell as if they're being sniffed through a dense filter that makes everything smell light and far. The scent goes on silky and musky, the lightness of the musks is blended with a touch of peppery rose, as if the rose petals and crushed pink peppercorns were mixed, which is not dominant but stays in the background and just adds a bit of flowery and spicy tone to the middle stage. Not to say, musky ambrette seed is prominent hereabouts.
In the dry down, like an aura, the powdery elegance of iris and ambrette is radiated by the excellent whiteness of musks. The iris is not resembling a lip-stick vibe, and there is no fattiness. Instead, it is more akin to carrot shaving, so tender and smooth. The scent is so sophisticated and full of sensuality, a mix of soapy and amber accord reminiscent of laundry-room air, squeaky clean. For those of you fond of white musk paired with iris, you should experience Cotton Kiss.
As you wear it, the fragrance doesn't necessarily change but just becomes softer. It slightly leans feminine without being girly. It's outstanding quality and unique. I see the fragrance appropriate for the warm days, Spring and Summer are excellent, a daytime time scent for the leisure and the workplace. Both sillage and longevity are moderate, perhaps the smell moves quickly close to the skin, yet it lasts quite a few hours. Every so often, I still intercept a beautiful waft of scent, even after several hours and on clothes the day after.
This review is based upon a 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) bottle I own since July 2020.
-Elysium
First, I affirm that this scent is not new in the sense that had already been launched last year, in 2019, with the same name and notes but belonging to "The Improbable" collection, classified as 003. Cotton Kiss's new bottle is the same as its siblings Coral Cassis, Santal Glow, and Mimosa Cloud, box and bottle come in dark pinks color, and the juice is all about musks, here smelling as cottony and charming as they are, fluffy and dank. I treasure the smell of ambrette seeds, the absolute extract comes from hibiscus flowers, and its notes are so damn addictive, creamy, sweet, fruity like pear and plum, and slightly animal breath. It is a vegetal musk, far away from the oakmoss, the synthetic white musk, or the animal deer's musk. Just to give you an idea, Cotton Kiss is the same ballpark as n° 18 Chanel or Ambrette Le Labo.
About the smell, once it touches my skin, the aroma is subdued and light, yet I instantly get the musky accord of the ambrette, highlighted with iris and pear. Ambrette and iris go together well, as in B. by Balenciaga, my beloved. The first accord smells like the best clean skin I can imagine, so natural that one who is sitting next to you might think you have a fantastic and attractive natural skin odor. In this initial stage, it is slightly carroty as if aldehydes mingle, not too much but detectable, and the musk is fruity, the synthetic pulpy pear accord aids that feeling.
The Cotton Kiss has the nostalgic musks in the heart, which are soft, velvety, light, and a feather, like the muslin cloths. Its notes smell as if they're being sniffed through a dense filter that makes everything smell light and far. The scent goes on silky and musky, the lightness of the musks is blended with a touch of peppery rose, as if the rose petals and crushed pink peppercorns were mixed, which is not dominant but stays in the background and just adds a bit of flowery and spicy tone to the middle stage. Not to say, musky ambrette seed is prominent hereabouts.
In the dry down, like an aura, the powdery elegance of iris and ambrette is radiated by the excellent whiteness of musks. The iris is not resembling a lip-stick vibe, and there is no fattiness. Instead, it is more akin to carrot shaving, so tender and smooth. The scent is so sophisticated and full of sensuality, a mix of soapy and amber accord reminiscent of laundry-room air, squeaky clean. For those of you fond of white musk paired with iris, you should experience Cotton Kiss.
As you wear it, the fragrance doesn't necessarily change but just becomes softer. It slightly leans feminine without being girly. It's outstanding quality and unique. I see the fragrance appropriate for the warm days, Spring and Summer are excellent, a daytime time scent for the leisure and the workplace. Both sillage and longevity are moderate, perhaps the smell moves quickly close to the skin, yet it lasts quite a few hours. Every so often, I still intercept a beautiful waft of scent, even after several hours and on clothes the day after.
This review is based upon a 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) bottle I own since July 2020.
-Elysium
