Hi Posse, Never Was A Cornflake Girl jumped out at me for its name alone while trawling Surrender To Chance a while ago. It’s been sitting on the desk, getting regular little squirts. This post has taken so long to write because I’m utterly undecided between adoration and loathing. There are days when I want a tub of it to bathe in and others I hop in the tub to wash it off. It’s a chameleon and may be totally altered by external forces to it, which are internal to me. Thing is, its brilliance is awe inspiring.
Just so you know, there’s no Search Button or field on the Hexennacht site. Be prepared to wade through. Well worth it though. So much to love.
Never Was A Cornflake Girl by Hexennacht
Hexennacht gives these featured accords:
Honey oat cereal, fruity pebbles, cinnamon toast crunch, raisin bran, rice krispies, sweet sugary milk at the bottom of the bowl
I can’t remember where I heard this. It may be a movie quote but in my mind it’s my mum or one of my friend’s mums as we were growing up. Maybe it was from a film and became cannon. Anyway, it goes, “If you wait long enough to cook dinner then everyone in the house will eat a big bowl of cereal.” It holds true to this day in our apartment. Many times I’ve had three bowls of cereal a day, on top of other foods. It’s so satisfying and delicious.
Now, imagine that you could smell that satisfying and delicious. I KNOW, RIGHT?!?
Right from the get go Never Was A Cornflake Girl proves that you definitely were and quite recently too. There is the real deal smell of cereal and milk. Maybe not Cornflakes but muesli and sugar and honey and sultanas and so much milk. My mouth is watering for some cereal and I’m already way too full from a delicious Korean dinner.
There is a trajectory but it all stays fairly close to the idea and leans more milky as dry down happens. Longevity is sensational and while not a big fragrance Never Was A Cornflake Girl is so other that you tend to notice it. If I spritz a card and leave the room, when I return it has filled the room insistently but not overpoweringly.
Here’s the question I pose to myself every wear. “Do you want to smell like this?” Most days the answer is a resounding yes but sometimes Never Was A Cornflake Girl smells not good and curdles in my nose. Not sure why…
What about you? Never Was A Cornflake Girl; would you?
Portia xx
I happen to be wearing Never Was a Cornflake Girl today and was thinking, this smells so interesting, how come it doesn’t get more attention! So I googled and came across this post! Your review is so spot on! Sometimes I really want to wear this, sometimes I hate it .. sometimes I get tired of it after wearing it a few hours. But I always come back to it. My body chemistry amps cinnamon so on me. It’s a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch and oat milk. Hexennacht is in my top 4 favorite indie perfumers, and she’s definitely the fastest shipper.
Gourmet scents–now you’re talking my language! 🙂 I’ve tried a few from this house through an indie traveling box and they were all over the board for me. I remember an orange one that I did really like. So far, I’ve managed to not go down the rabbit hole with indie perfumers (other than DSH), endless things to try and I spend too much as it is on this hobby.
YAY! Why did I not remember you are a gourmand lover as well VerbenaLuvvr?
Portia x
I dunno. I loved (and own) Lostmarch Lann-Ael which is nummy comfort cereal goodness but then there was Nez a Nez Ambre a Sade, which was Frooty Pebbles served in an armpit and made me want to scrub my arm with a dremel tool.
But I am intrigued enough to hit StC for a sample..
HA! You poor bugger Tom. Those perfumes that turn on us are always the longest lasting too.
Portia xx
Oh, I bet I would LOVE this! I’m going to get some guidance from Carolyn, or maybe just place an order at StC. I hope I can smell it!
Fingers crossed March.
The selection at STC isa really good.
Portia x
I don’t have sugary cereals is add sugar. I like the smell of the milk at the bottom of my bowl.
I enjoyed Lann-Ael when I sampled it eons ago but not enough to buy.
I’m unsure I’d like this if it is sugary sweet.
I do now have an earworm of the song of the same name
HA! Yes, what a song too Alityke
Portia xx
No, I don’t think so. I’m not a gourmand lover. Foodie smells are a turn off. But I do have lots of childhood memories of eating cereal in front of the TV while watching cartoons on a Saturday morning. Nostalgia for sure!
OMG! Such memories of Saturday TV watching in the mornings.
Thanks for the reminder DinaC.
Portia x
I adore Hexennacht and was thrilled recently to see that Surrender to Chance was carrying them! Caroline’s perfumes run the gamut from dark/mysterious/witchy to ethereal to ridiculous fun. Her incense is sublime as well. I love her vanilla and her tobacco scents. No, she doesn’t have a search function but she has a very detailed and helpful list of her scents. I’ve probably tried 30 or so of them based on description and rarely had one that I found off putting. And she puts thoughtful samples in with orders. She also fulfills orders lightening fast in my experience. Just can’t say enough good things about Hexennacht. She has something for everyone.
Woo Hoo! So happy to find a dedicate fan of a brand I barely knew existed Carolyn,
What are her best incenses you’ve tried?
Portia xx
I’m sure this smells like my childhood, when every so often my mom allowed us to pick a sugary cereal as a treat (and of course my university spring break, writing my senior thesis, alone on campus when cereal was a staple food!) I haven’t eaten cereal in years. My college aged son and his friends seem to prefer pop-tarts over bowls of cereal for their sugary breakfast substitutes. Fun review!
Hey MMKinPA,
Maybe I love cereal so much because it was always so easy and available growing up, and through the lean years of first moving out of home.
Jin is not a huge fan of cereal because he needs to have a big bottle of lactose free milk or almond/soy/oat on hand. He has been known to though. His main go to are 2 minute noodles.
Portia xx
This house sounds interesting but not having a search mechanism on the site? I love Lostmarc’h Lann-Ael, which is comforting cereal, vanilla and milk. But, the idea of smelling of an American grocery store cereal aisle — not so much. I remember on visits to my father in Brooklyn years ago, when my son was still fairly young, and the fascination with the local Safeway’s cereal selection. There was so much it ended up being system overload — like visiting Times Square in the evening after not going for years.
Yeah, no beach engine is bloody hard work Cinnamon. Maybe it’s a purposeful thing? Dunno why though.
HA! Whenever we land in a new country Jin and I hit the supermarkets and check out all the different offerings. we buy a shitload and try them all.
Portia xx
That sounds wonderful and, yes, I would happily wander around smelling like cereal! I love the idea of continuing a flavor that I enjoy by wearing it as a fragrance. Bergamot marmalade, violet candy, coffee, chocolate….the list goes on.
Oh yes, I totally get that ElizaC,
One of my faves is the Caron Pour un Homme lavender follies effect.
Portia xx
No, especially since I don’t even look at the wall of cereals in grocery stores. I dislike them all.
I have been curious about Hexennacht (Witch’s Night) perfumes. I thought they would be darker and more dramatic. Maybe some of their others are.
Ah! That’s interesting Maya, maybe you could write and ask for some super dark suggestions?
Portia xx
Probably not, but this sounds amazing. I expect it would fall into the category of scents that I like to smell but don’t want to smell like – a lot of gourmands end up there. Your review made me smile though!
Making you smile is a win Maggiecat.
Portia x