Zara Vetiver Pamplemousse

The world here is slowly moving towards spring. March can be an all-over-the-place month but at least we are seeing a lot more blossom (magnolia, cherry, in addition to a load of daffodils and other bulbs) – which helps regarding the winter blues.

If you read my post last week, you might have seen the picture of the four things waiting to be addressed. This week, we’re doing the first one I grabbed – which was a really interesting and lovely surprise.

Let me say from the outset that I am negative on Zara overall as a shop. I have tried over the years to wear the clothes offered but nothing, and I do mean nothing, has ever fit properly. Clearly, I am not their demographic. Which is fine but weird too. I’m good with H&M, Next, and on and on with chains.

So, I never tried any of its fragrance offers – because why bother?

Grapefruit. I love the idea of grapefruit now. Alas, however, I can no longer eat it. I have very strong memories of visiting my parents as a 20-something and eating loads, and I do mean loads, of grapefruit – like I was missing something nutritionally that was only available via these huge citrus things. I’d peel one, segment it, pull back a bit of the gossamer stuff covering the fruit, and nibble. My mother was hugely perplexed by this method of eating and was also a bit concerned about why I seemed to be needing to eat a couple a day.

Decades ago a friend gifted me with a Jo Malone grapefruit candle. Great sharp citrus fragrance and incredible throw. One of those gifts that keeps giving in the memory long after the item itself is gone.

But even with these positives about grapefruit, when I received this little bottle along with some samples from a friend, I was dismissive. I though to myself, “Maybe I’ll just gift it to one of the charity shops without bothering to try it”.

Would have been a big mistake – because this is just … a small piece of perfection.

Make no mistake, the fragrance isn’t at all complex and it certainly doesn’t have any real development. Quite simply simple and full of joy.

Notes list is a joke: grapefruit, tangerine and vetiver. Interestingly, Jo Malone actually did this for Zara. The marketing guff is “A crisp white cotton shirt layered with a citrus cologne, an every day accessory for me”.

The opening has a hint of vetiver and it’s a bit of sour distraction from what is a very very good grapefruit. Sharp, tart, juicy, etc, etc. Longevity is good: around six hours and drydown isn’t sweet – still getting that tart grapefruit smell.

Wearing it is happy making, and it’s cheap as chips – like, really, seriously. The Zara website currently lists 75ml at £4 (down from £26 – it would still be a bargain at £26). So, get out there and spend a tiny bit of your money.

I will definitely be keeping this and it will join Agrumi di Sicilia as a spray mightily hot weather staple.

Oh, and I love the word ‘pamplemousse’. Much nicer than grapefruit.

Anyone tried this or any of the other Zara fragrances?

Pics: Pexels and mine