Since I have had some success on these pages following my co-conspirators in reviewing things (don’t you love getting second opinions?), this time around it’s a drop d’issey, which Portia reviewed two week ago.
I grew up with lilacs and it’s one of the scents I miss most about New England. They can grow in parts of California but don’t thrive like they do back east. The don’t seem to smell as strong either.
Is this the lilac that I remember? Not really. But then it’s been a very, very long time since I have smelled real lilacs, so I don’t think I am the best judge. Portia describes this as weird, but approachable. And it is. The opening is rose but the lilac comes in pretty soon behind, sort of bobbing and weaving: is it sweet? Is it animalic? Is it demure white flowers? Yes to all three. Add in the discernible milky almond and a touch of Farnesiana’s mimosa (unlisted) and you have something that’s both wearable and enjoyably weird. It does the hide-and-seek thing that actual lilacs (if I remember them correctly) do. After an hour or so it becomes a skin scent on me, just slightly floral and milky. I like.
It’s also I think about $25 a bottle at the etailers, which these days is practically free.
Have you tried this one? Has Portia’s prose cause you to purchase (it did me)? Let us know in the comments.
Photos: my iPhone and Pexels.
Yes. I am blaming Portia.
The lilacs are nice, and the milky almond thing too. There’s an aromachem in there that smells very harsh to me, though, and it ruins the rest of it.
Yes. I followed P right over that d’Issey cliff.
Jury’s still out on this one… stay tuned
Can’t wait to read! I love these impromptu “all hands on deck” reviews.
Yes, Portia’s prose did persuade me to buy. We have a lot of enablers here, which is part of the fun. The price was basically free also. Sadly this did not work for me. There was an initial burst of lilac, then gone. There was an occasional tiny hint of lilac, but A Drop was basically very light and non-descript and there was something unpleasant there too.
Tornados here – Kansas City, MO! The previous storm had one touchdown just outside the metro area. This second storm went from watch to warning with phone alerts of a tornado forming. Then the tornado warning sirens started throughout the city and stayed on until it was announced that it had not formed completely and was breaking up.
Ooof I am glad you were safe! I remember those warnings from when I lived in Milwaukee. You supposedly aren’t supposed to get them so close to Lake Michigan, but that ain’t so. At least once I was caught flat-footed by a storm warning. Once outside downtown: the sky turned the color of a bruise. then olive green, then the skies just open to gumdrop sized hail. I took refuge in the Hotel Phister until it was over.
The sky does get very weird and eerie and feels strange doesn’t it. The KC warnings came in the evening and at night. I did see the sky you described once years ago when visiting family friends in Grand Haven, Michigan which is fairly close to the lake. They said it’s only a tornado watch and not to worry – that when tornados come from the lake side they usually jump over Grand Haven and touchdown further inland. Usually? Not reassuring.
I think I’ll wait til it gets more springlike around here to properly give it a sniff plus I still have a lingering cold so that doesn’t help me any.
Curious about everyone’s thoughts!
Well I hope you’re back to 100% soon. Take care.
Ha! I of course bought one as well, will be giving my two (s)cents next week!
I’m really looking forward to reading that. You weren’t near that swath or tornadoes, were you?
Love lilacs in New England.
However, lilacs in perfume don’t work terribly well on me. So, while I want to sample this I will have to be some place where it puts itself in front of me, rather than being sought out.
I don’t think I’ve really smelled one that’s 100% lilac (unless there’s some CB I Hate Perfume one that I am forgetting) but this one is quite nice. I don’t know that I will need to replace this one if I ever run out but it is nice.
No need to search will send with the TF
Portia also enabled me. I also got a tiny bottle of the Essentialle flanker. It would have been rude not to. The perfume maths meant they were almost paying me to pop it my cart. It worked out as less than £10 when calculating the discount on second bottles & free shipping.
Not spritzed yet but I have high hopes from the notes & comments
Sometimes you have a win when you choose to fill that shopping cart for free shipping..
As you say the OG A Drop isn’t photorealistic cool raindrops on lilac. Aerin Lilac Path is that. En Passant is way too chilly for me, more snow on lilacs.
A Drop isn’t way more complex, weird & that long, long fresh almond dry down is blissful. I got almost 24 hrs of happiness.
I would describe her as a Spring Witch of a scent
That’s a lovely description!
I bought the travel size from Jomashop, and it arrived this week. The opening notes are very pretty lilac. It fades into a creamy musk that is very long-lasting. Ultimately I get ambroxan laundry musk type drydown which doesn’t thrill me, so I’ll have to spritz again I guess. It’s a good one for spring.
I actually don’t mind ambroxan in small doses. But if you don’t then this isn’t for you.
OOOHHHHH Tom!
I love that you are enjoying A Drop d’Issey. Currently wearing it as I type too.
So interesting that you get a rose opening. Just respritzed and I can see how you get roses. Chill, dewy roses on a frosty morning. Yes, I totally get it.
It’s a sweaty, humid 33°C today (91+f) and A Drop d’Issey is perfect. Like you.
Portia x
It’s hitting about 70°F today here. And this is really pretty in this weather too. Thanks for the tip!