I got an email from a friend asking me whether I had smelled this one and what I thought of it. I admit that I had read reviews of it and felt no need to seek it out. But my friend wrote that there was a newer version that she really liked. Since she’s a stylish sort of girl with impeccable taste I dropped into the Jimmy Choo boutique to check it out.
Well, it’s no shrinking violet.
It starts with a fruity floral opening. Those words normally would send me bolting towards the nearest outlet for soap and water, but this I actually liked. Really liked. There was something else in there: a touch of burnt caramel, a hint of musk that made the orchids and berry/peach accord work much better than it had a right to. The burnt caramel note in the middle comes with a fairly delicious vanilla in addition to the orchid and the drydown adds in a very nice patchouli. I kept smelling something delightful all during the day and realizing that it was me.
Apparently this is a limited one that will only be sold this Christmas. Perhaps the seasonality portion of the program is no bad thing: a couple too many spritzes of this on a humid August day could kill you. But smelling this on someone on a crisp fall day? Heaven..
I hope they bring it back every year.
$150 for 1.3 ounces, exclusively at Saks and at the Jimmy Choo boutique, where I tested.
Tom, I hated the first one but you’ve actually made me want to go try this one!
I wish burnt caramel smelled good on me. :( Occasionally I find a caramel that works, (Frederic Malle L’Eau d’Hiver) but they’re few and far between. Usually the note becomes nauseating on my skin. I love it on other people.
I’m seconding Ann’s comment. I love burnt caramel but wouldn’t have given this a first look, let alone second, without this review.
Thanks!
xo >-)
I was trying to figure out why this was so much more expensive than the original and in a smaller size so I had to go look. It’s a parfum rather than EdP. Guess that it explains it. Thanks for the review, might seek out a sample!
Hi, Tom! Wow — this is quite a surprise. I’d written the original off very quickly, but now may have to seek out a spritz of this; I do love me some burnt caramel. Thanks for the heads-up.