All Hallows' Eve, Trick or Treat, and Jack-o'-lantern

Halloween or Hallowe'en, a contraction of "All Hallows' evening" or All Hallows' Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating--or the related guising and souling--attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, as well as telling scary stories. A jack-o'-lantern is a carved pumpkin lantern, commonly associated with the Halloween holiday. Its name comes from the reported phenomenon of strange lights flickering over peat bogs, called will-o'-the-wisps or jack-o'-lanterns. It also tied the name to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way.

This year for the Halloween party, ZARA wanted to give us four new warm autumn fragrances, all centred on citrus and fougére accords, each with a tiny variation. First of all, the fragrances are presented in a matte black box with silver writing placed on a glossy black label, very refined. Inside we find a very minimal, square bottle, whose cap is gripped on the sprayer. On the bottle back, there is the word PARFUM imprinted in the glass; that creates a pleasant effect with the perfume's name printed in black on the front. If any of you have used Nino Cerruti pour Homme Eau de Toilette, now miserably discontinued, you will find a certain similarity in the bottle's format.

But let’s move on to the essences. If we observe the notes declared on the site, we find in all the fragrances the note of lavender, flanked by citrus fruits such as lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot, to which is added a more particular note that characterizes every single fragrance: apple, pineapple, cocoa, and cardamom. Thanks to this backbone that unites the four fragrances, at the opening they may all seem similar to each other, but it is during the evolution of the head, heart, and tail that each gets on its shape taking a precise direction.

So I try to jot down my first impressions, waiting to write the complete reviews. The exposure is random and does not represent a ranking, so stick around and let’s dive in. I like all of them, however, Lasting Desire is the one that intrigues me the most. More, I check them on the blotter every morning and depending on my mood and weather; they smell slightly different from the day before, with a note oozing more than the other.

Elegant Opulence

Oh man, what a gorgeously aromatic, woody, and sweet redolence we meet here. The roster includes lavender, apple, cardamom, and patchouli. In the aromatic opening, I get a green, minty sign next to citrus, which is very akin to sage. The heart unfolds slightly powdery and resinous facets, which makes me think of violet leaf, ain't no aqueous but powdery. Dark woods, together with patch and vanilla, a spicy and not edible coumarin, set up the dry-down. This is for the chilly nights of fall and winter, a warm and homey embrace.

Discover more about The Irish Legend of Jack-o’-lantern.

Extreme Fusion

To my nose, the fragrance unfurls fresh and spicy. Other than touches of lemon, bergamot, pineapple, and considerable lavender, I catch spicy nutmeg in the heart, with amber vanilla on a wooden bed in the dry-down. Now and then, I get a smidgen of roasted coffee, which makes the cologne more appealing. Both days and evenings of fall are the right time for wearing it, although I would wear it in spring too. This is the most surprising and startling of the four.

Read more Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

Charming Freedom

A sense of spicy freshness with aromatic nuance is what I get with this cologne. It is the most citrus and fruit of the four, with ample green apple overtone throughout. Next to it, there is a bittersweet grapefruit. A greenish and leafy nuance bleeds from the heart, a touch of the violet leaf together with a minty lavender. And the dry-down is earthy and slightly leathery, with a good handful of roasted tonka. Both leisure and business hours are a good time during the fall months.

Read more about Strangely Charming: The Wind of Freedom Blows.

Lasting Desire

This is perhaps my favourite so far, and if I were to put them on the podium, this would take first place. Among its citrus, amber, and spicy accords, there is a creamy gourmand aspect lingering in the air. The cocoa note shimmer and blends with a whiff of vanilla and some grated citrus peel, resulting in a cream-like chocolate mousse. This is the creamiest cocoa I have ever worn. A touch of sweet lemon curd with smooth lavender and powdery bergamot. In the heart, I seem to catch a fumy note similar to olibanum, smokier than churchy. The dry-down is smooth, a base of vanillic, balsamic, and soft blond woods. Homey, for an intimate date and dinner out, and special night events in the fall months.

Find out more about Freshly Baked Waffle Cone.

That's all for now. Have you smelled any of these perfumes? I’d love to learn what others think of them.

-Elysium