Stinkypenny

This scent starts off with a burst of sweet caramelised plum, that has a sharpness similar to the taste of plum skin with the fleshy softness of leather. The tart plum skin and leather give this composition a huge sillage at the start. This lasts for about 30 minutes, the scent bubble then contracts significantly. The emergence of the indolic jasmin comes through and lies close to the skin. My partner had to sit his nose upon my skin after the 2hr mark to really smell the fragrance. Only the light plum notes could be detected from arms length. I had first acquired a sample, then moved on to a 10ml decant as the sample grabbed my attention but I wished to play with it a little longer. I am glad I stayed by buying hand, as this is not worth the hefty price tag. The performance is meh, I can still detect it faintly on my inner elbow and I over sprayed (by my standards (3 sprays on each elbow)) 4 hours after applying. I hope the other offerings from the Velvet line are much better in performance, to only be able to faintly detect this after 4 hours is shocking IMO. It maybe my skin, or the creams I used to moisturise (fragrance free cerave), but the performance on a strip is worse. It is detectable for many many hours after first application but only as a skin scent or if I inserted the strip into my nostril. Definitely worth a sniff as it is a joyful, sensual experience, absolutely not worth a bottle.
The most absurd part of this composition and the part that lets it down the most is the dry down. The raspberry sticks out like a sore thumb, not juicy but green and unripe, sharp, tart and undesirable. Thankfully, this is not detectable unless you are up close and personal with the scent. My scent rating remains high because the opening and the mid are so perfect, so inviting, even though their presence is short lived.

This is a stinky fragrance. A deep loin girdling fragrance. It’s filthy and carnal. Something to splash on (one spray) before enveloping a lover. Something to splash one (two sprays) to capture the attention of another.
There is no surprise in the fact that I love this. Every note listed is a note that I love. The spicy nutty opening stays for an impressively long time before giving way to the heart of the fragrance, and the barnyardy animalistic oud permeates throughout. The sillage is rather large, not something to be sprayed close to the face (for me anyway), but very captivating. This is very animatic in the dry down and for this reason could be polarising. But in this I find it powerful and energising in a hazy comforting, sensual way. This is a high 9 for me, it’s only not a 10 because even when sprayed on my inside elbow it is rather cloying.

You would be forgiven for thinking that there is neroli in this composition, there is not. There is an aquatic, southern European coastal energy about this fragrance; for this would sit pretty on the skin when admiring the blue of the sea on a beach in Malta. This is very well blended, making the distinguishing of any individual note difficult; for I detect not fruit, but a fresh and yet an under-ripeness. The white heady florals give this fragrance an almost overwhelming cloy that is hushed by the sharp, yet blunt, freshness; it sort of bops your nose before entering your nostrils.
Something in this fragrance makes it feel unfinished... leading my nose somewhere but nowhere at the same time. With my nose hovering about the crook of my elbow I detect the warming hay and musk reminding me of sitting in a London park in the height of summer, where it hasn't rained for 10 days, and the possibility of starting a fire from the butt of a stray cigarette seems unnervingly likely. There is no smoke, or tobacco in this per say, but it does hint at the smell of a book that had resided in a smokers home in the dry down. There is a stale dustiness right in the background, that wafts in and out of my perception.

Would I buy a full bottle of this?
Absolutely not. It's not a like, but it's not a hate. It's a 'meh', uninteresting and undefined.
If I had to choose between wearing this fragrance for a day or no fragrance at all, I would possibly go for no fragrance at all, but use my Bom Dia cream for a small perk me up. It sits lazily on me, in 24 Celsius heat, but does transport me (in the opening) to somewhere hot and less gloomy that the South of England at the end of July. Possibly sun and a greater temperature would really elevate this fragrance. I will wait until such a day and retest and update.... should my opinion does change.

It does smell nice, do not get me wrong. It just smells boring to my nose. Plesant, nice even. But dull as grey London in late November.

This fragrance opens up with a bright green, fresh citrus vibe. Something gives the vibe of morning cocktails, of neroli and lemon. It’s a revitalising scent, one of good moods and good mornings. In the mid, it takes on a soapy lime and orange rind quality… reminding me of a bar of dove soap. It’s a very clean scent, not my type of fragrance, but it’s projection is rather impressive for a fragrance of this type. It lifts off the skin very nicely, scenting the air around with a dry lemon and lime soap. Still rather intimate; you, as the wearer (or rather I) still felt the sense of it rising from my arms (where i sprayed it) when ever the breeze blew or I gesticulated in some way. I see some people think this is a gourmand, this doesn’t have the quality of something I would like to eat, it smells like perfume. An odd thing to say, but it is clean, bright and inviting.

The opening is a little non-descript. Quite sharp, high on the citrus, makes your nostrils itch a bit. The rosewood creates a much needed cloud of softness. The mid is cute. The real star of the show is the dry down.

Just when you have forgotten the fragrance was on you, a whiff, a soft pale iris haze will emanate from the spray site. It will take the breath from your lips and replace it with a dusting of sandalwoods and old fur. This is quietly luxurious. The amber, musk and vanilla lend this concoction a refined warmth against the noble iris. It is lovely.

Edit to update: It is not what one would describe as beast mode, but nor is it intimate. It’s a gentle scent that will come and go, playing coy with you and your senses. It does last, a great amount of time. Since wearing it at 2pm to now, (3am) I can still detect the remnants without having to press my nose to my skin (quite difficult as I sprayed my shoulders). This was a blind buy for me (just the wee 10ml), I love iris so felt that this was safe. As lovely as it is, I’m in no rush to buy a full bottle. I’m quite happy with my travel glass as I try to reorganise my collection.