Métallique by Tom Ford

Months ago, I was gifted many Tom Ford fragrances. One of them was Métallique.

By just taking the cap off, I could smell vanilla, but also an unquestionable note of something metallic. The note is so unique and realistic that it is more of a sensation. Like having bitten your lip and tasting the metallic taste of blood in your mouth.

Métallique is very unique and I dislike and like it at the same time. I honestly cannot have enough vanilla fragrances, but even though Métallique is largely based on vanilla, it is so unique that I wouldn't consider it a vanilla fragrance. 

Upon first spray, Métallique opens with a fresh citrus note of bergamot. I do love my citrus vanillas, but a note of something green keeps Métallique a freshy rather than a sweet gourmand. The green note is strongly meddled with heliotrope making the fragrance lightly floral and powdery.

On skin, vanilla isn't as prominent as it is from the bottle. Sharp citrus is the main accord along with aldehydes. The vanilla on skin is very dry and solely serves the purpose of grounding Métallique, so that it doesn't become a classic aromatic, green, cologne like fragrance. The dry vanilla is honestly the only thing that makes Métallique unisex, whereas without, it would have been leaning masculine.

I have to give this another go, but I feel a slight headache creeping in. I don't usually have headaches, they are always a result of a fragrance too strong for my liking. 

The metallic note isn't as prominent on skin as it is from the bottle, which is prefered. I cannot imagine how it would smell if it lasted on skin and how I would feel about it. Smelling as cold and sterile as metal does. 

I am honestly unsure whether I will reach for this fragrance. It is a citrus, yes, it has vanilla, which I love, and absolutely adore together, but it is done in such a way that I don't feel completely comfortable about it. However, after complete dry down, an hour or so later, Métallique is calm, delicate and a mellow version of what it was before. I would still describe it as a dry vanilla, but it is delicately floral, aldehydic, slightly powdery. You know what? An actual treat!

Mémoire d'Une Odeur by Gucci

Mémoire d'Une Odeur has been my Achilles heel in regards to reason. I have swarmed around this fragrance like a bee to a pollen-filled flower. The bottle is so insanely captivating, but the juice always made my nose scrunch up.

I was so lucky to have been gifted this beauty and finally had the chance to give it a proper go. I know I have been gone for too long yet again, but here I am and I hope you'll welcome me back.

Mémoire d'Une Odeur is quite difficult to describe. It is minty, green, herbal, yet light and airy. I recently tried and reviewed Matcha Meditation by Replica and my nose is therefore picking up some matcha in Mémoire d'Une Odeur too. After dry down, the scent becomes surprisingly unpleasant. Something plasticy appears and dominates it entirely. 

Oh no, this is not how it's supposed to go! 

I was expecting a fragrance that was too green and chamomile-based for my liking, but I'm getting a synthetic nightmare on my skin. It lingers like that for a long while and I was about to wash it off, but didn't, because I'm not going anywhere and want to give it a proper go. And this is how it went.

An hour in and the plastic note is gone, luckily, but the longevity of Mémoire d'Une Odeur is short lived too. Just close to skin, I get a faint chamomile and an airy jasmine. It is herbal and not too sweet, it is well balanced in that aspect, but it is not for me. What a hassle just to arrive to a lukewarm ending.

The only thing I do enjoy about Mémoire d'Une Odeur, is the absolute divine bottle. Though the juice inside was even worse than I expected, I will display it as an artwork in my collection. Proudly.

La Danza delle Libellule by Nobile 1942

Green apple vanilla cake. That is what comes to mind when smelling the first sprays of La Danza delle Libellule. I can almost taste my mother's apple pie with Polish crumble batter. The crunchy sugar, hint of cinnamon and the pie being fully cooled down. And that's a funny detail about this fragrance, it is very specific smelling like cooled down apple pie rather than a hot one straight from the oven. 

Close to skin, La Danza delle Libellule smells less like a cake and more of green apple. I am at a loss for words to describe the scent in any more specific detail.

On paper, the fragrance is like that of a crumbleless apple pie meaning that the baked apple and cinnamon is there, but without the doughie sweetness and warmth. It smells like a delicious homemade applesauce. This is only for the gourmand lovers for sure. And I also find it to be a scent for special occasions unless you don't mind smelling like apple cake in your day-to-day. This one is for the sunny days in the garden, for the picnic in the park, for the cosy cottage stays.

To those of you who haven't tasted my mother's apple pie (which is probably all of you) La Danza delle Libellule smells of cooked apples that are half made of sweet baking apples like that of Discovery and half of sour and fresh Braeburn apples. The apples are a delicious, perfect balance of sweet, fresh and sour. A pinch of cinnamon only alludes to the spice being used. The crumble is made with a little sour cream unlike many other recipes that only use sugar, flour and butter giving it a wonderful texture.

Baked with love at 220 degrees celsius. Have I painted you a picture yet?

La Danza delle Libellule is a mouthwatering fruity gourmand fragrance that will endear any heart unless you do not want to smell like pie and you most definitely will.

I usually don't mention this, but the atomiser is top tier too. I am so happy to have added this to my collection.

Hibiscus Mahajád by Maison Crivelli

Like so many other fragrances, Anne Lauren was the one to convince me to try Hibiscus Mahajád. When at Galilu last summer with my friend, I sprayed a paper strip liberally and was immediately taken aback by how potent the scent was. I looked over at my friend, she shook her head, but nonetheless I saved the paper strip in my purse for later wanting to give the fragrance a proper chance.

Back home, I emptied my purse full of paper strips and Hibiscus Mahajád stuck out like a sore thumb. I was still unsure, whether that was good or bad. For days it layed on the dining table being the main aura around our late night talks over wine or the next day for breakfast.

After a week, I still couldn't get myself to throw it out even though I was still unsure whether I liked it or not. At the end of my trip, I still struggled to throw it out and considered taking it back home. The paper strip remained just as potent with the juice of Hibiscus Mahajád as it was in the beginning.

I looked back and wondered about Hibiscus Mahajád, so when the opportunity came, I had to get my hands on a sample and this is how it went.

Hibiscus Mahajád is nothing like I remember. The difference is, besides the then heat and the current winter (I started this review half a year ago), is that I am testing it on skin. 

On skin, Hibiscus Mahajád smells like a hint of gasoline. The leather is definitely there and the hibiscus is in the background too. The scent is definitely floral, but in an unconventional way. This fragrance is a complete enigma to me and I find it very difficult to describe.

My boyfriend's short review is that this fragrance wants to be too much at the same time.

I find it fruity and floral in the most unique way. It is also a bit creamy, not lactonic, but creamy like suede. The fragrance might sound juvenile, but Hibiscus Mahajád is fruity and floral in the most mature way possible.

Most of all, I find Hibiscus Mahajád leathery, but completely void of the harshness and the sourness that often comes with a leather note.

After an hour, Hibiscus Mahajád is the most realistic cooled down cup of hibiscus tea. Deliciously sour and fiery red.

Funny thing is, I'm still unsure whether I like it when I smell it close to my wrist.
The projection is amazing and I can smell it all around me up in the air and I smell amazing! The fragrance gives me a boost in confidence even though it isn't sexy or flirtatious per se.

Hours later, the scent is the same, but so very different. It has calmed down, settled into my skin. Melted into it. Hibiscus Mahajád is just unique, there's no other way to put it. And I'm pretty sure, I love it. Oh, and so does my boyfriend. 

Half a year later, I am back to finishing this review. I have added the fragrance to my collection and worn it many times throughout winter. It is one of my absolute faves at the moment and a prized possession, however, I recommend not overusing it, because I did at some point and had to take a long break before introducing it again. Beware, Hibiscus Mahajád is a force to be reckoned with!