Today I’m back with my thoughts about the three remaining scents in the Scary Fairy Tales sample set – Pinocchio, The Little Mermaid, and Jungle Book. There were … some plot twists.
Jungle Book — forest foliage, fig, pear, muguet, amber, sandalwood, cedarwood. Huh. I started with this because it seemed like the one I’d prefer based on the notes. I get a pleasant, green-floral scent with no fig whatsoever (sadface) and it’s not particularly interesting. Longevity is meh. Next!
Little Mermaid – pink champagne, lilac, sea salt, ocean, lemon zest, seaweed. I was dreading this one, because that list of notes is bizarre, and also I think most marine-type scents smell … bad to me, and on me. You know that smell of standing on a dock in late July and there’s dead crabs or fish nearby that you keep catching whiffs of? WELL. I get a millisecond of salty-seaweed funk at the very beginning and then poof! it’s gone, and what remains is a quirky, appealing scent that reads “early summer at the shore” without a coconut/suntan note – zesty and salty and lilacs in the breeze.
Pinocchio – palo santo, sandalwood, peach, saffron, vetiver, cedarwood. YIKES. This smells sooooooo much like what I remember emanating from Abercrombie in the early aughts at the mall, when they were pumping that stuff into the air. (I googled and apparently that miasma is called Fierce?) Oooh wait, here you go: “Fierce features a blend of marine breeze, sandalwood and sensual musk wood notes, for a fragrance that’s truly iconic.” If you want to smell like this, and you definitely don’t, the Fierce is the better deal at $49 for a 1.7 oz bottle retail, and presumably less if you poke around online.
So, I didn’t love all the scary Fairy Tales, but that’s not a surprise. I’m not going to buy them either, although I wouldn’t say no to a travel size Little Mermaid.
What’s the last fragrance that terrified you? Was it a scrubber you tried, or something you were trapped in an elevator with? (Mugler Angel would be a real horror show in that scenario.) Having survived four teenagers in their mall years, I’m not sure I’ll ever completely wash that Abercrombie smell out of my memories, but at least it’s not on my clothes.
cover photo from Pexels
I am curious about the demographic this is for, as well. I like the concept – it’s fun and creative. I had a chance to sniff through the set w some friends a few weekends ago and it was cool how they really tried to stay through to the theme for each perfume. At the same time, the execution felt, if I am being less generous, juvenile. There was a chance there at some real story telling but I don’t think the skill is there to move beyond what it was. They’re not terrible, but they’re not great enough to move past the novelty genre.
We never got Abercrombie here in Oz Tom so I’m not really sure what that smell is but I’m lemming it, HA!
Who do you think the demographic is for these perfumes? It seems like a hodge hodge.
Portia xx
Great wavy gravy! These sound… unappealing. But as Dina C said above, thanks for taking one for the team!
Well, those were a big fat letdown. I’m sorry March. But you were a really good sport, taking one for team posse. The last thing I tried and really loathed was Baccarat Rouge 450, and to make matters worse the SA scolded me for not loving their bestseller. How dare I! I liked Amyris Femme much better. Haha
Ha! I’m largely anosmic to Baccarat Rouge, which is also laughable given what a cult favorite it is. That SA is ridiculous lol. And I looooove trying stuff, even if it turns out I hate it 😀
I expect the last thing that didn’t work was a scrubber but I can’t really remember. Maybe one of the Kayalis. Little Mermaid sounds fun. I walked next to the estuary this morning and it was salty humid air with flower smells. Really nice.
That estuary smell — yep! Salty humid air and flowers is a pretty great combo.
The last one that really really scared me was “Human Existence” which was from the coffret for the movie “Perfume” smells like dangerously crazy person who hasn’t bathed for a month or so. I have it somewhere taped up like the bottle of booze containing the malificent warlock at the end of “I Married a Witch.” If I ever really hated someone I’d pour it into the cowl of their car. Makes ELd’O Secretions Magnafique seem like Eau Sauvage.
Oh gawd that Abercrombie. I think they made those boys skip deodorant and spray that every ten minutes. Salty matchsticks and feet. Gag.
Salty matchsticks and feet is an apt description! I smelled Human Existence in … Vienna? I think. Smelled it, I had the good sense not to actually dab it on, thank g-d. What an absolutely wretched smell. I can’t believe it’s in YOUR HOME, glad it is on lockdown!
I just had two HUGE 16 yr old males in my house (moving heavy things) and…
welp!
Salty matchsticks and feet about sums it up!