Arielle Shoshana, Matcha, and a Sweet Giveaway

Saturday and Sunday, available in 10ml travel size and 30ml. My quick photo is not doing them justice.

I have exciting news from this past weekend’s Arielle Shoshana launch party for her second perfume, which is called Sunday.

Let’s back up a bit.  Her first perfume (now renamed Saturday) was released a couple of years ago, before the idea of a series emerged, when it was simply called Arielle Shoshana.

That first scent is built around an amazing passionfruit and saffron center, a scent Arielle had always wanted to do, and now she’d done so with Cécile Hua.  It’s a really novel scent construct, and if the idea of grapefruit/passionfruit/rhubarb in a perfume makes you excited, you should try it.  Me? I thought it was gorgeous, but it just never seemed like something I would reach for.

Then I read about her new scent, Sunday. According to Arielle, “Sunday’s inspiration was my favorite Sunday morning brunch beverage, our neighbor True Food Kitchen’s matcha horchata. It’s the most addictively delicious blend of sweet, spicy, and green flavors. The first time I tasted it, I thought to myself, ‘This needs to be a perfume.’”

And that, my fragrant friends, sounded very much like something I would reach for, so I put a big red circle on my calendar for the launch party.

They funded the development on Kickstarter, which 1) whoa, how cool is that?! And 2) sounds like a total pain in the ass, but they got it done, apparently. I’m picturing them packing up boxes until 4am on launch day.

Mods of Sunday lined up on the counter for us to sniff.

From the website: “A gentle swirl of matcha green tea, creamy rice milk, and a delicious sprinkle of cinnamon. Sunday serenity, any day of the week. Notes: Matcha Tea, Rice Milk, Cinnamon, Maté Absolute, Cardamom, Coconut, Amber, Sandalwood, Vanilla.”

I got to sniff the mods, all lined up on the counter, which was a hoot—the perfumed version of listening to someone adjust the bass and treble settings on your stereo.  This one was a little sweet, that one a little flat… a little too milky, a little too sharp.  Then, voila, finished.

So, how is it?

Somewhere there may exist a video of me at the launch, sniffing my wrist and literally jumping up and down in a perfume-dork’s frenzy of delight.  This is…… this is one of those handful of perfumes that I sniff and think, you made this just for me.  It’s a perfect comfort scent, and perfect for this time of year. On my skin it starts out a little sharper and greener with the matcha, although still very creamy as you’d expect with that list of notes.  The spices show up a few minutes later.  It’s gourmand, yes, but for something inspired by an actual milky drink it’s not especially food-ish (drink-ish?). The far drydown on me has a hint of a milky-sweet finish I jokingly called Froot Loop accord (to a look of abject horror from Ari, lol) – I think a nose-trick of the vanilla and coconut?  I dunno, but it’s great.  Ari, please don’t kill me.

What’s next on the list at some point in the future?  Monday, of course – a bold, coffee-inspired fragrance.  I’m looking forward to it.

Here’s a link to their site, where Saturday is available in sample, 10 ml and 3.4oz – how cute are those bottles?  Sunday is…. bummer, all sold out at this moment.  But lucky you, Arielle gave me 10 ml travel bottles of both Saturday and Sunday for a giveaway, so make a comment if you want into the draw!

 

  • OnlyTheBest says:

    It sounds wonderful.   Count me in!

  • HeidiC says:

    Well, this sounds delightful! I got to go to Ariana’s shop (before she released her own perfumes) and she arrived just as we were leaving, and the experience was just lovely. I did get a sample of her first one, but Sunday sounds divine! Thanks for the draw!

  • Ingeborg says:

    I’ve been curious about the first perfume since it came out, but Sunday seems even more likely to be my cup of tea! Please enter me in the draw. Nicely packaged small bottles or travel sprays are a plus in my book.

     

  • Tara+Mc says:

    Took me a wear or 2 of my sample, but I grew to love Arielle Shoshanna (now Saturday). Sunday sounds like nothing else out there, would love to try it.

  • rosarita says:

    I would love to try these, I’ve been reading people’s glowing reviews. I hope that video surfaces, March!

  • Sapphire says:

    Sunday sounds perfect to me!  Kenzo Amour is an interesting comparison.  With the green notes, I also thought of Angelique Noire.  Thanks for the drawing!

  • Eric L says:

    I eould love to try either of these!

  • Jennifer S says:

    Sounds cozy indeed and I like the simple coloring and playfulness of the packaging and bottles themselves. Count me in thanks!

  • Dina C. says:

    I love Ari’s shop, and I wish I could have gone to the opening. Sunday sounds amazing and includes so many notes that I love. Did the rice milk-cardamom-vanilla-wood combo remind you any of Kenzo Amour (a favorite of mine)? Seems like this might be the slightly more gourmond cousin. ? I would love to sniff it. Thanks for entering me in the drawing!

    • Musette says:

      LOL!  Kenzo Amour was the first thing I thought of, when I read this post!  March and her ‘steamed rice accord’ fragrances!  Not for me, but it does sound lovely – and those scents smell divine on her!

       

      xoxoxoA

  • pattie says:

    Ooohh, that sounds really, really nice.  Count me in please!

  • Meggie says:

    This sounds delicious and perfect for Winter in Vermont. Thanks for the opportunity to wear it!

  • Claudia S says:

    I’d love to try them! Thank you 

  • LT says:

    Oh my gosh, that sounds like it’s made for me to!!

  • Mindy Grazulis says:

    matcha and rice!!!! in my belly please (and my nose!!)

  • Carolyn says:

    ? Oooh, both of these scents sound wonderful! As Annie A. would attest, I’m a sucker for anything grapefruit. Matcha green tea is one of my fave beverages and cardamom…well…I’m speechless. Count me in for the draw. Btw, the packaging is fun – well done.

  • Marian Taylor says:

    Sunday sounds divine. Count me in for the draw X

  • Taxi says:

    Sunday sounds divine!  Saturday’s saffron-rhubarb sounds interesting as well.  What a great story on the start of this fragranc.

  • Koyel says:

    DNEM–mine arrived this morning 🙂 –but Sunday is just wonderful. I love it. Pretty fleeting on me but not as bad as Saturday. By the way, March, I think the sizes offered are 10 and 100 mL, unfortunately. Once I finish my 10 mL of Sunday (and I will!), I wonder if I will get another or spring for the 100 mL. Maybe she’ll come out with 30 mL sizes by then.

    • March says:

      Derp – fixed the size, thanks.  I think the large cap threw me off, I’m pretty good at eyeballing…. y’all keep talking about fleeting.  Fleeting?  This gets on me and does.not.budge and Saturday was even more so.  Someone else said that in comments.

  • Tara C says:

    Saturday was very nice, but Sunday sounds like much more my jam. Thanks for the drawing and the photos!

  • Filomena says:

    Oh, this one sounds like just something I need to make my Sundays more than they are (which is the only day I have the time to clean my condo).  Perhaps one little spray would inspire me to get things done sooner rather than later.  I never win anything (no matter what it is besides perfume) but please include me in the draw anyway.  Thank you so much!

    • March says:

      I can relate.  I sat here for awhile before I started the giveaways up, trying to remember if I’d ever won anything — and I enter things all the time on a lark.  School raffles, neighborhood contests, drawings at work, makeup giveaways on YouTube….. and I have never won, not once.  So I tell myself that just having the chance to play is the reward, since that’s likely the only one I’m going to get!

  • Kathleen says:

    I participated in the Kickstarter and was notified this week that my shipment has been sent. I think I will be getting a 10 mill spray so please don’t enter me in the giveaway. after reading your review I am even more excited to sniff Sunday!

  • ScentSpirit says:

    My issue with the original Arielle Shoshana was that on me it was very fleeting. How is the longevity for Sunday? The notes sound lovely, so please consider me for the draw.

    • March says:

      OK you are the second/third person who’s said this which blows my mind, it is POTENT on me.  Man, perfume is weird.

  • Gina T says:

    That sounds lovely. Please count me in for 10 ml of heaven.

  • Richard Potter says:

    It is a lovely scent and one I was proud to help crowd-source. And the bottle is everything and so fun!

  • Sarah Patton says:

    Yum!!! Sign me up, March!

  • Elspethe says:

    SO excited about Sunday, it sounds wonderfully comforting. Thanks much for the generous giveaway!