BeginswithaJ
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BeginswithaJ 3 years ago
Marginally better than Orchid
Just like the original Orchid review I made: I hope I don't offend anyone with this review. It is though my honest opinion and please keep in mind that all reviews are extremely subjective. That said:
Man I hate this perfume almost as much as Orchid! It might just be one or two components messing with my nose, but in any case I find it smelling very cheap and plastic-like. Though a bit more agreeable than the original EDT, this one is by far not on my highest rated fragrances list.
Zara's Orchid Intense opens fresh and bright with a citrus note and tart green apples. This smells very synthetic. This makes way for a slightly subtler heart where a musky, warm note complements the pointy fruitiness. There's almost a sliver of vanilla in there, but I'm guessing it might actually be an amber accord. This is the softness this fragrance really needs and even adds a touch of powder. It dulls the pointy sharpness of the opening and synthetic fruit tones that linger throughout. Dry down is quite linear and doesn't evolve much after this.
Sillage is luckily not too good, and at least on my skin the formulation available in 2020 doesn't last long. About two to three hours worth before it turns into a skin scent. Just like Orchid. Mileage may vary.
This perfume is probably for all ages up to 35, but again: this is extremely subjective.
Man I hate this perfume almost as much as Orchid! It might just be one or two components messing with my nose, but in any case I find it smelling very cheap and plastic-like. Though a bit more agreeable than the original EDT, this one is by far not on my highest rated fragrances list.
Zara's Orchid Intense opens fresh and bright with a citrus note and tart green apples. This smells very synthetic. This makes way for a slightly subtler heart where a musky, warm note complements the pointy fruitiness. There's almost a sliver of vanilla in there, but I'm guessing it might actually be an amber accord. This is the softness this fragrance really needs and even adds a touch of powder. It dulls the pointy sharpness of the opening and synthetic fruit tones that linger throughout. Dry down is quite linear and doesn't evolve much after this.
Sillage is luckily not too good, and at least on my skin the formulation available in 2020 doesn't last long. About two to three hours worth before it turns into a skin scent. Just like Orchid. Mileage may vary.
This perfume is probably for all ages up to 35, but again: this is extremely subjective.
Thank god it doesn't last
Now I know this fragrance is rated above average overall so I hope I don't offend anyone with this review. It is though my honest opinion and please keep in mind that all reviews are extremely subjective. That said:
Man I hate this perfume! I would actively try and avoid anyone wearing this. It might just be one or two components messing with my nose, but in any case I find it smelling very cheap and plastic-like. There aren't many perfumes I have to wash off after testing, but this certainly is one. 'Especially Escada Elixir' does the same thing to me, unfortunately. Maybe they have some overlapping ingredients that don't agree with me.
Zara's Orchid opens fresh and bright with an almost soapy floral accord with citrus and tart green apples. It's a pointy sweetness and very synthetic smelling. Once the opening fades there's just more room for cheap aldehydes and the synthetic flowery smell lingers on. This continues into the dry down and stays for the most part very linear. It never opens up to something nice. The other fragrances from the Minimal collection are much gentler on my olfactory system so it's not just 'Zara being cheap'.
Sillage is luckily not too good, and at least on my skin the formulation available in 2020 doesn't last long. About two to three hours worth before it turns into a skin scent. Mileage may vary.
I would see this perfume on young girls up to 18 maybe, but prefer they would look at other Zara fragrances instead. There's so much more fun to find elsewhere!
Man I hate this perfume! I would actively try and avoid anyone wearing this. It might just be one or two components messing with my nose, but in any case I find it smelling very cheap and plastic-like. There aren't many perfumes I have to wash off after testing, but this certainly is one. 'Especially Escada Elixir' does the same thing to me, unfortunately. Maybe they have some overlapping ingredients that don't agree with me.
Zara's Orchid opens fresh and bright with an almost soapy floral accord with citrus and tart green apples. It's a pointy sweetness and very synthetic smelling. Once the opening fades there's just more room for cheap aldehydes and the synthetic flowery smell lingers on. This continues into the dry down and stays for the most part very linear. It never opens up to something nice. The other fragrances from the Minimal collection are much gentler on my olfactory system so it's not just 'Zara being cheap'.
Sillage is luckily not too good, and at least on my skin the formulation available in 2020 doesn't last long. About two to three hours worth before it turns into a skin scent. Mileage may vary.
I would see this perfume on young girls up to 18 maybe, but prefer they would look at other Zara fragrances instead. There's so much more fun to find elsewhere!
BeginswithaJ 3 years ago
It's a flanker, but is that a good thing?
This smells so incredibly similar to Classic 8.0, I can't even. Not going to spend a lot of words on how it develops: it doesn't. And not going to elaborate much on the differences either. Zara replaced the melon with a mandarin note, and made it a little greener. That's about it.
As a whole I would dare to say this fragrance feels rushed, and an uninspired alternative to the Classic 8.0 scent. It's like Zara needed just one more flanker on Friday afternoon, but the whole office was already at the bar.
Buy this when you like Classic 8.0 (or Zara 8.0 as it was first marketed) but hate melons.
As a whole I would dare to say this fragrance feels rushed, and an uninspired alternative to the Classic 8.0 scent. It's like Zara needed just one more flanker on Friday afternoon, but the whole office was already at the bar.
Buy this when you like Classic 8.0 (or Zara 8.0 as it was first marketed) but hate melons.
BeginswithaJ 3 years ago
A more mature Classic 8.0
Since this is a flanker for Zara Classic 8.0 I'll treat it as such.
I feel this is a slightly more sophisticated version of 8.0, where it's less fruity and more suited for casual business wear. It won't upset anyone, but does have a slightly unique smell that relaxes. I wouldn't wear it over 25 though. By then you'll have come across more interesting fragrances.
What differs from the Classic version is the more pronounced citrus opening, and the absence of the sweet synthetic melon. It's still driven by the dusty, freshly-ironed-shirt accord of violets and marine notes in the heart. Within half an hour the patchouli does it's work and pushes a bit of incense, a spicy accord through, yet it remains very sublte. It stays dusty fresh, and has a greener vibe than the Classic 8.0
Sillage and performance is as expected: short projection, and just about a skin scent after an hour or two.
There's no major difference between the 8.0 line as a whole, so if you have one, maybe look beyond their flankers and find something more distinctive.
I feel this is a slightly more sophisticated version of 8.0, where it's less fruity and more suited for casual business wear. It won't upset anyone, but does have a slightly unique smell that relaxes. I wouldn't wear it over 25 though. By then you'll have come across more interesting fragrances.
What differs from the Classic version is the more pronounced citrus opening, and the absence of the sweet synthetic melon. It's still driven by the dusty, freshly-ironed-shirt accord of violets and marine notes in the heart. Within half an hour the patchouli does it's work and pushes a bit of incense, a spicy accord through, yet it remains very sublte. It stays dusty fresh, and has a greener vibe than the Classic 8.0
Sillage and performance is as expected: short projection, and just about a skin scent after an hour or two.
There's no major difference between the 8.0 line as a whole, so if you have one, maybe look beyond their flankers and find something more distinctive.
Dusty
Please note: I tested the 2020 rebranded version Classic 8.0, which has the same Fragrance notes.
Sunny and uplifting summer scent for the young masses. Some say it's a Lacoste White 12.12 dupe, and I can understand that.
If you were enthusiastic about the mint, skip this fragrance. It's nowhere to be found. The opening consists mainly of bright citrus and melon, which changes into a dusty melon note in the heart within the hour.
And this is where we touch base with the dominant note of the Zara 8.0-line: violets! Here, but also in the flankers is a flowery, dusty accord from beginning to end, which might make it smell a bit 'off', 'stuffy', or 'musty' for some. Together with the cedar, to me it smells like more like sun-dried laundry, or a recently ironed cotton shirt. Not at all unpleasant. It gets a little more woody in the dry down and some kind of milky accord appears, in the direction of coconut milk.
Sillage is mediocre at best, and performance wise there's nothing to write home about. 2 hours in it's not much more than a skin scent.
Sunny and uplifting summer scent for the young masses. Some say it's a Lacoste White 12.12 dupe, and I can understand that.
If you were enthusiastic about the mint, skip this fragrance. It's nowhere to be found. The opening consists mainly of bright citrus and melon, which changes into a dusty melon note in the heart within the hour.
And this is where we touch base with the dominant note of the Zara 8.0-line: violets! Here, but also in the flankers is a flowery, dusty accord from beginning to end, which might make it smell a bit 'off', 'stuffy', or 'musty' for some. Together with the cedar, to me it smells like more like sun-dried laundry, or a recently ironed cotton shirt. Not at all unpleasant. It gets a little more woody in the dry down and some kind of milky accord appears, in the direction of coconut milk.
Sillage is mediocre at best, and performance wise there's nothing to write home about. 2 hours in it's not much more than a skin scent.
