Still Life in Rio by Olfactive Studio

Hey Ho Posse. Still Life in Rio is a next gen of Still Life from the Olfactive Studio original trio. Today I’m wearing it from the Fresh & Cool set of 5 x 4ml spray samples. Yeah, I’m not sure exactly where it came from TBH. Maybe as a GWP in an order or purchased, could be anything really. It seems they don’t make the set anymore but you can still buy samples reasonably from the company site. I’ve previously talked here about others in the line up, most recently Ombre Indigo. So let’s talk about Still Life in Rio.

Still Life in Rio by Olfactive Studio

Olfactive Studio gives these featured accords:
Top: Yuzu, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Mandarin
Heart: Jamaican Hot Peppers, Pink Pepper, Black Pepper, Coconut Water Accord
Base: Rum, Brazilian Copaiba Balm, Leathery Notes

Many of you (including me) tried this at some point or other. With the line being such a knockout Still Life in Rio seemed to get left well behind in my list of favourites. In fact I remember wishing it had been a LOT more interesting. Still Life? Dead. In all honesty I think it might have suffered from being a perfectly formed wallflower in a sniffing frenzy of pugnacious extrovert perfumes vying for most outrageous and/or confrontational. So many times they have scored the shopping gong and rarely get a spritz once I’m choosing daily wear frags at home.

Is this a common perfumista problem?

Anyway. How does it smell? Still Life in Rio opens fresh, spicy, ginger citrus and a very vetiver feeling slightly oily greenery. The mint is background until that initial lip puckeringly tart juiciness passes. Then that fireworks opening calms noticeably. Mint, citrus, chilli (actually it’s more like cutting into a capsicum) and the smoothing influence of coconut water and some resinous unmentioneds take us into the heart. This is my favourite part of the ride. It works perfectly with the sunset photograph the fragrance is moulded around. Sparkling gold welcoming the cool of evening in a calm and dignified way, maybe even a little melancholy, overwhelmed by the beauty.

Still Life In Rio by Flávio Veloso

As we head towards dry down my nose starts to notice the black pepper and my throat gets the dry ache I associate with the perfume note. The whole fragrance becomes more smooth underneath the crackly pepper and we get a very nice dual action going. I even get remnants of the citruses in a pithy, vegetal musk kinda way. It continues much the same till its very last gasp.

Designed as unisex. Longevity good and while not projecting very far if you are wishing the close sphere of someone wearing Still Life In Rio it will catch your attention. Low key but utterly gorgeous.

Have you tried it?
Portia xx